Will Coronation Street and Emmerdale Move to Sky? ITV’s £1.6bn Takeover Faces Government Investigation
Sky’s proposed £1.6bn ITV takeover faces government scrutiny. Could the deal affect Coronation Street, Emmerdale and ITVX?
Could Coronation Street and Emmerdale eventually move to Sky? That question is likely to be on viewers’ minds after the Government formally intervened in Sky’s proposed £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV’s broadcasting and streaming business.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice on 4 November, requiring regulators to examine the proposed deal before ministers decide whether further action is needed.
Although the transaction could significantly reshape British television, no changes to either soap’s broadcasting arrangements have been announced.
Why Is Sky Trying to Buy ITV?
The proposed acquisition would bring ITV’s television channels and streaming operations together with Sky, creating a larger British broadcasting business.
Sky has argued that combining the companies would strengthen their ability to compete with major international streaming services.
The proposed transaction includes ITV’s media and entertainment operations, including ITVX, but excludes ITV Studios.
That distinction is particularly important because ITV Studios produces Coronation Street and Emmerdale, alongside numerous other programmes.
The production business would remain part of ITV plc rather than automatically becoming part of Sky.
Why Has the Government Intervened?
Nandy issued the formal intervention notice after previously indicating that the Government was considering whether the acquisition raised public-interest concerns.
The Competition and Markets Authority will examine competition and jurisdictional questions, while Ofcom will assess matters relating to the media.
These include the diversity of news providers, freedom of expression and the availability of a broad range of television and on-demand programmes.
The investigation will help ministers determine whether the proposed acquisition requires further scrutiny.
Could Coronation Street and Emmerdale Leave ITV?
There has been no announcement that Coronation Street or Emmerdale will move away from ITV1 or ITVX.
The proposed acquisition concerns the ownership of ITV’s broadcasting operations rather than an immediate transfer of individual programmes to different channels.
Sky has made commitments concerning ITV’s identity, public-service broadcasting responsibilities and the editorial independence of ITV News and Sky News.
However, the proposed deal remains subject to regulatory examination, and no final decision has been made.
Will ITVX Become a Paid Service?
There is currently no confirmed proposal to make ITVX exclusively subscription-based.
The streaming service continues to offer free access to a wide range of ITV programmes, alongside its existing premium subscription option.
When Will the Takeover Decision Be Announced?
Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority have been instructed to submit their reports by 5pm on 27 January 2027.
The Government will then consider the findings and decide whether further investigation is necessary.
For now, Coronation Street and Emmerdale continue on ITV1 and ITVX, with no confirmed alteration to their broadcasting arrangements.
Image credit: ITV / Sky.
