Exclusives | Europe

Comcast-owned Sky reaches terms to buy ITV’s broadcast unit

25 June 2026, 10:17 am

1 min read

FILE PHOTO: The Sky logo is seen illuminated on the outside of a building at the company's headquarters in West London, Britain, January 25, 2017. Photograph taken January 25, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Comcast’s Sky has agreed to buy the broadcast channels and streaming service of Britain’s ITV for £1.6 billion, creating a British champion to compete with global players YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and Disney.

Why it matters

The combination of Britain’s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster and pay-TV company Sky would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, but the rise of YouTube and the streaming giants has left traditional companies exposed. ITV shares rose 2.9% on Thursday following the Reuters report.