Talks to buy ITV’s linear TV and streaming business were leaked to the public earlier than planned, now questions are being asked about how willing Comcast is to seal a deal.
Concerns regarding impact of Warner Bros Discovery takeover battle
Talks mired in time-consuming work regarding content arrangements
Comcast interested in creating a major streaming player in the UK combining Sky and ITVX under one roof
Three months after reports first emerged of a potential Comcast takeover of parts of ITV, progress on the talks has slowed, according to Reuters.
The proposal under discussion would see Comcast acquire ITV’s Media and Entertainment division, which includes the broadcaster’s linear channels and its ITVX streaming platform. ITV Studios — the production powerhouse behind Emmerdale, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and many of the network’s biggest shows — would be separated into an independent company. The move would effectively split ITV’s content creation from its broadcasting operations.
Sources suggest that the complexities of carving out ITV Studios, along with negotiating future content arrangements between the two entities, are proving to be major sticking points. Comcast is also said to be “less engaged” in recent weeks, though hopes for a deal remain. ITV has previously cautioned shareholders that an agreement is far from guaranteed.
The wider industry backdrop is adding pressure. The ongoing takeover battle involving Warner Bros Discovery has sharpened focus across the sector. If Paramount and Skydance succeed in their own deal, Channel 5 could be folded into a group that already includes TNT Sports and HBO Max — a combination that would reshape the UK media landscape and potentially overshadow Comcast-owned Sky.
What’s in it for Comcast?
For Comcast, acquiring ITV could create a powerful streaming contender by pairing ITVX with Sky’s services, forming a top‑tier rival to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. However, such a deal would also give Comcast a stake in ITN — the news provider for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 — alongside its existing ownership of Sky News. Any takeover could give Sky a shareholding in the organisation running free-to-air TV in the UK. That’s likely to trigger regulatory action.
Both ITV and Comcast have declined to comment on the latest reports.
Image: ITV