Sky's proposed £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV has sparked concern among soap fans about the future of long-running series such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street. However, the deal does not include ITV Studios, the production arm responsible for both shows, meaning the soaps will continue production as usual.
Deal Structure and Free-to-Air Guarantee
The transaction brings together two complementary media companies. ITV channels and ITVX will remain free-to-air, and audiences will still enjoy familiar programmes alongside national and regional news. Sky and ITV Media and Entertainment aim to combine free-to-air broadcasting, advertising-funded streaming, and subscription television with Sky's wider portfolio.
ITV currently reaches around 40 million people weekly and serves over 16.5 million monthly digital users. Combined with Sky, the new business will account for about 20% of in-home viewing in the UK, second only to the BBC and ahead of YouTube.
Soap Operations Unchanged
Emmerdale and Coronation Street are produced by ITV Studios, which is not part of the sale. This means the soaps will largely remain the same. Other shows like Love Island, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and even the BBC's Line of Duty also fall under ITV Studios and are unaffected.
Sky Group CEO Dana Strong, CBE, described the deal as 'a defining moment for British media.' She added: 'We have huge respect for the transformation the ITV team has delivered, particularly its successful move into streaming through ITVX, which has brought fantastic British content to millions of viewers across the UK. Bringing Sky and ITV Media & Entertainment together combines the very best of free-to-air television, pay TV and streaming, ensuring viewers across the UK continue to enjoy outstanding British programming in a rapidly changing world.'
Long-Term Outlook
While ITV's public service broadcasting licence requires free-to-air service until at least 2034, some less popular shows may eventually move behind a paywall or be cancelled. For now, however, it is business as usual for Emmerdale and Coronation Street, which remain cornerstones of ITV's output.
