U.K. culture minister Lisa Nandy has signalled she is “minded to intervene” in Sky’s proposed $2 billion takeover of ITV, citing concerns about maintaining media plurality, particularly with regard to news.
Nandy confirmed in a statement she may intervene if she has “reasonable grounds to suspect” that public interest considerations are at play.
These include the “need for free expression of opinion in news media,” “a sufficient plurality of views in news media” and “a sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprises” serving a variety of areas around the U.K. (in effect, local news).
Nandy said she has written to Sky and ITV to inform them of her intention to further scrutinize the process. The companies will have until Oct. 20 to make representations.
