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Mon, 06 Jul 2026

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 ITV hits such as I'm a Celebrity to stay free to watch after Sky takeover

Sky boss Dana Strong's comments came as the channel announces it is buying ITV's media and entertainment divisions in a £1.6bn deal.

* The deal includes ITV's broadcast channels and its ITVX streaming service but excludes the studio arm behind shows like I'm a Celebrity.
* ITV will receive £1.2bn in cash from Sky as part of the deal, plus Sky's Love Productions business valued at £200m.
* Sky has agreed to spend £2.1bn on content from ITV Studios over five years.
* The takeover must be approved by regulators before it can go ahead.
* Dame Carolyn McCall says the deal will help both broadcasters compete with global streaming giants and invest in new shows.
* Sir Peter Bazalgette calls the deal "essential" for the survival of domestic broadcasters, saying consolidation is needed to compete against global players.