ITV has confirmed that it is in preliminary discussions regarding a possible sale of its media and entertainment business to Sky for an enterprise value of £1.6bn. That would include the broadcast channels and the ITVX online service, but not the ITV Studios production business. Sky is owned by the American communications company Comcast, which also owns NBC, Universal, and the Peacock online service, among other brands, with combined revenues of over $123 billion in 2024. The discussions are at an early stage and would require regulatory approval.
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Netflix is reported to be exploring a bid for the Warner Bros Discovery studio and online video business. It has hired an investment bank to evaluate a possible offer and has been given access to the data room with the financial details of the company.
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An independent group of media experts, academics and producers is calling on the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, to use the review of the BBC Charter to separate the corporation entirely from the influence of government, calling the current arrangements “no longer fit for purpose”. It wants a new permanent charter to establish the BBC in pertpetuity.
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The global market for television and video is forecast to reach $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2030, based on reports from Omdia. The growth will come from online, with online video advertising predicted to account for over half the total.
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An independent analyst suggests that the possibility of switching off digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom in 2035 could leave millions of viewers without a television service. He is critical of the assumption that transmitters could be turned off in 2035.
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The share of viewing to broadcast television channels in the United States rose in September to 22.3% from 19.1% the previous month, putting them just fractionally ahead of subscription channels, which rose from 22.5%. Online viewing fell back slightly from 46.4% to 45.2%, its lowest level since May, but continues to exceed that for broadcast and subscription channels combined.
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