The futures of Coronation Street and Emmerdale have been confirmed by ITV, following its deal with Sky. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026, ITV's managing director Kevin Lygo said the shows will continue.
In July, ITV agreed to sell its media and entertainment arm to Sky for up to £1.6 billion, after months of talks. The sale includes ITV's terrestrial TV channels and streaming service ITVX, but not its production arm, ITV Studios, which makes shows including I'm A Celebrity and Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
Soaps' future assured
Speaking about Coronation Street, which is filmed in Salford, and Emmerdale, as well as Love Island and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, Lygo said: "These shows will continue."
Referring to the two soaps, which have spent almost 66 and 54 years on screen respectively, Lygo added: "They've embedded now, that block at 8pm is still always the highest-viewed thing of that day. It's really important." He declared: "Long may it continue."
Deal details
The confirmation follows a major change to ITV's scheduling pattern in January, which was launched with the historic crossover, Corriedale. It comes after Sky committed to spending at least £2.1 billion on the partnership over 2028-2032.
Under the terms of the deal, Sky will pay £1.2 billion for the broadcasting unit and sell its Love Productions business to ITV, which makes shows including the Great British Bake Off and The Piano, and is valued at £200 million.
Executives' comments
Dana Strong, Sky's group chief executive, said: "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. ITV will remain a public service broadcaster at the heart of British life, and we're excited about the future we can build together."
Andrew Cosslett, the chairman of ITV, said that "at a time of rapid change in the industry, it is right that we now secure ITV's crucial role as a public service broadcaster" and that the combined business will "create a UK champion with the scale and resources to better compete with global streaming platforms".
