We feel left out, Sky’s ITV acquisition talks slow amid Warner Bros Discovery battle

Talks between Comcast-owned Sky and ITV about a potential £1.6 billion ($2.18 billion) acquisition of ITV’s broadcast channels and streaming platform have slowed in recent weeks, as industry attention shifts to the battle for Warner Bros Discovery.

ITV confirmed in November it was in discussions to sell its Media and Entertainment unit to Sky. The proposed deal aims to create one of the top three streaming services in the UK market, positioning it to compete with global giants like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

Reuters report now notes decreased engagement from Comcast’s headquarters in Philadelphia. “They have slowed in recent weeks,” one source said about the negotiations.

The slowdown appears partly due to complications related to spinning out ITV Studios, which produces many of the broadcaster’s biggest shows. This operational challenge, combined with industry disruption from the Warner Bros Discovery acquisition battle, has contributed to the reduced momentum in talks.