Hit ITV shows could disappear behind a paywall within a decade after the commercial network agreed to sell its media and entertainment business to Sky for £1.6bn.
ITV said “fan favourites” including Coronation Street, Love Island, Emmerdale and I’m a Celebrity, along with its national and regional news, would remain free to view on the channel and its streaming service, ITVX.
But that commitment only extended to 2034, when ITV’s current licence as a public service broadcaster expires, raising concerns that its most popular shows could become part of Sky’s pay-TV offer after that date.
2034 is also the Government’s preferred date to switch off the Freeview signal, under its plans to shift all households to streaming-only viewing.
Campaigners against the move fear that viewers will be forced to sign up to pay TV providers including Sky, in order to retain access to ITV’s channels once Freeview disappears.
Sky TV, owned by American company Comcast, said: “All of ITV’s Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) commitments, including regional and national news, are safeguarded under the terms of the Channel 3 Licences until 2034, which Sky is acquiring as part of the Transaction.”
‘No ITV paywall’
The satellite TV and broadband operator declined to give guarantees that ITV would remain free-to-air after 2034. Dana Strong, Sky CEO, said: “There is no intention of putting ITV behind a paywall. ITV will remain a PSB at the heart of British life.”
“As long as consumers love Coronation Street, we will absolutely be delivering Coronation Street,” Strong said of the long-term production security of ITV’s famous soap.
A Sky source added: “We wouldn’t be spending £1.6bn on a free-to-air channel to put it behind a paywall. The whole incentive for the deal is to put a PSB of mass audience scale with Sky’s pay business. It would be presumptuous to make any commitments beyond the current licence term which ends in 2034.”
The deal is designed to create a “commercial streaming champion for the UK” to take on the likes of Netflix, Amazon and Disney, Sky said.
Sky said viewers can expect to see more sport free to view on ITV. Sky could show more EFL football games – from the Championship to League Two – live on ITV, The i Paper understands.
Whilst ITV News and Sky News will remain editorially distinct, Sky viewers could see reports from ITV’s regional news teams, filling in gaps in its domestic coverage.
Sky committed to the future production of Coronation Street (Photo: ITV)Hit Sky original shows such as drama The Day of the Jackal and Saturday Night Live UK could get a second run on ITV, boosting their audience.
However campaigners to preserve Freeview beyond 2034 warned viewers could end up paying more to watch TV. One industry insider said: “Sky has lost millions of satellite subscribers as viewers move to streaming. But turning off Freeview would force millions to get a broadband connection and/or a new TV supplier to replace Freeview.
“They could be enticed to Sky’s pay service as only means of keeping their current channel line-up including the ITV channels.”
Sky backs digital switch-off
A recent report published by Sky found that the UK “can move fully to internet-delivered TV in the 2030s with only around 330,000 (2.2 per cent) households left to help over the line – if Government sets a clear timetable and invests in targeted help for those most at risk of digital exclusion.”
The number of households using Sky satellite dishes has declined from 10 million to 6.2 million over the past decade, with Sky UK and Ireland serving around 12.7 million TV and broadband subscribers.
The position after 2034 is further complicated by Comcast’s decision to spin off its media operation, which includes Sky and the Hollywood film studio, TV and theme park business NBCUniversal, into a separate publicly listed company.
That new company could find itself a target for a takeover bid by a streaming giant such as Netflix.
Regulators including the Competition and Markets Authority are expected to analyse the ITV/Sky deal to ensure it does not result in viewers losing choice or programme quality.
The Sky-owned ITV will show UK-originated programming between 6.30pm and 10pm each night, averting fears the schedule could become a dumping ground for US imports.
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