RUMOUR - X: Are Comcast and Sky UK set to buy ITV PLC?

The following was given by an Media Boy UK follower on X:

Just had a Sky engineer out to replace the dish, he told me don’t be surprised if Sky buys ITV in the future, he said its really attracted to its ITV Studios, but also wants a top channel slot to feed viewers to its pay channels like in the us with NBC.

Advanced Television; Data: UK SVoD nears 20m subs

Story from Advanced Television:

Worldpanel by Numerator has found that paid-for ad supported streaming services are on track to surpass ad free services in UK households by Q2 2026.

Variety: U.K. Government Formally Rejects Streaming Levy, Doubles Down on Mixed Production Ecology

Story from Variety:

The U.K. government has firmly rejected calls for a 5% levy on streaming platforms and mandatory IP retention rules, instead emphasizing the benefits of a “mixed ecology” that welcomes both international investment and local production in its formal response to parliamentary recommendations on British film and high-end television.

Deadline: Toby Jones Talks UK Drama Sector’s “Existential” Crisis & Champions BBC

Story from Deadline:

Acting star Toby Jones has suggested the UK drama sector is going through an existential crisis as its grapples with developments such as the rise of AI and competition from globals streamers as well as growing income barriers for entry into the creative industries.

BBC News: Opening of NI's largest virtual studio makes filming 'the impossible possible'

Story from BBC News:

Northern Ireland's largest film and TV virtual production studio is set to be formally opened on Thursday.

Media Guardian: UK broadcasters hail rare win over Netflix in battle for streaming ads

Story from Media Guardian:

Shows such as Netflix’s TV history-making Adolescence and Disney’s romp Rivals are among the latest hits to continue the subscriber juggernaut, as the US streamers continue to mount pressure on UK TV broadcasters.

Deadline: Ollie Madden Exiting Film4/Channel 4 To Join Netflix As Director Of UK Film; Farhana Bhula & Gwawr Lloyd Upped At UK Broadcaster

Story from Deadline:

Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, is leaving the broadcaster after an eight-year stint to join Netflix as Director Of UK Film.

Deadline; BBC Content Supremo Latest: Banijay UK Boss Patrick Holland Out, Kate Phillips Person To Beat

Story from Deadline:

We have more on the race to replace Charlotte Moore as the BBC‘s content supremo.

BBC News: How can traditional British TV survive the US streaming giants?

Story from BBC News:

Just before Christmas, in a private dining room in the upmarket Charlotte Street Hotel in the heart of London's Fitzrovia area, the BBC's director general gathered some of the UK's leading TV creatives and executives for lunch.

Deadline: Netflix UK Boss Anne Mensah Rules Herself Out Of BBC Content Chief Race

Story from Deadline:

Anne Mensah has said she has unfinished business at Netflix amid speculation linking her to the BBC content chief role vacated by Charlotte Moore.

Advanced Television; Report: UK advertising records £42.6bn spend in 2024

Story from Advanced Television:

The latest Advertising Association/WARC Expenditure Report shows that the UK’s ad market recorded a 10.4% increase in investment to a total of £42.6 billion in 2024.

Variety: U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy Rules Out Streamer Levy

Story from Variety:

British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has firmly rejected proposals for a levy on streaming platforms operating in the U.K., despite recent recommendations from a parliamentary committee suggesting such a measure could help support the country’s television drama sector.

Broadband TV News: Netflix changes the way subtitles are presented

Story from Broadband TV News:

Netflix is introducing a new method of presenting subtitles to its audience.

Advanced Television; Data: Prime Video, Apple TV+ lead new subs in Q1

Story from Advanced Television:

Kantar, the marketing data and analytics company, has revealed growing adoption of ad-supported streaming, strong competition between Prime Video and Apple TV+, and a breakout performance by Mubi, which recorded its best-ever quarter in the Entertainment on Demand (EoD) GB streaming market data.

Advanced Television; Report: Netflix’s Welsh productions generate £200m for UK economy

Story from Advanced Television:

Netflix and Creative Wales have revealed that Netflix productions in Wales have contributed over £200 million for the UK economy since 2020.

Hollywood Reporter: That U.K. Netflix Tax? Not Going to Happen. But Streamers May Get Dragged Into Trump’s Trade War

Story from Hollywood Reporter:

Just days after Netflix announced record viewing figures for British series phenomenon Adolescence — the drama racked up 114 million views in just 24 days on the platform, making it the 4th most successful English-language series of all time on Netflix — the U.K. Parliament heard how its local TV industry is “under threat” and that global streamers are part of the problem.

Advanced Television; Data: Netflix boosts WWE engagement in UK

Story from Advanced Television:

WWE’s move to Netflix has significantly increased UK engagement with its two flagship shows – RAW and SmackDown – according to data from Quantcast.

Broadband TV News: Vodafone and Three planning TV service following merger

Story from Broadband TV News:

Vodafone and Three are working on plans to launch their own TV service following their £15 billion UK merger.

Broadcast: What the UK can learn from France’s streamer regulations

Story from Broadcast:

With MPs calling for a domestic streamer levy, how are French attempts to regulate US streamers faring?

Deadline; Peter Kosminsky: UK Government Would Rather See British Drama “Go To The Wall” Than Upset Trump

Story from Deadline:

Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky has argued that the UK government is more worried about “poking the U.S. presidential bear” than protecting British TV storytelling.