Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s fates revealed as Sky takes over ITV
Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s fates have been revealed following the news that Sky has agreed to buy ITV for £1.6million.
The proposed transaction between ITV and Sky brings two of the most trusted and complementary media organisations together to create a stronger media business.
Once the completion has happened, ITV channels and ITVX will remain free-to-air. Audiences will continue to enjoy programmes they know and love, alongside the national and regional news.
Sky and ITV Media and Entertainment aim to combine free-to-air broadcasting, advertising-funded streaming and subscription television, together with Sky’s wider portfolio.
The big plan
ITV currently reaches around 40 million people every week and also serves more than 16.5 million monthly digital users. Combined with Sky, the new business will account for around 20% of in-home viewing in the UK. This is second to the BBC and ahead of YouTube.
This news is huge. Dana Strong, CBE, the Sky Group CEO, has called it a ‘defining moment for British media’.
Dana 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. TV will remain a public service broadcaster at the heart of British life, and we’re excited about the future we can build together.’
What does this mean for Corrie and Emmerdale?
The development and confirmation that ITV is going to change in such a massive way has left soap fans panicking about what might happen to Emmerdale and Coronation Street. The change in the TV landscape has seen budgets get reduced at both shows a significant amount. As a result of this, a number of cast members have left.
This, alongside the fact popular shows including Holby City, Doctors and Neighbours, have all been axed between the years of 2022 and 2025, has caused plenty to feel stalwarts like Corrie and Emmerdale are at higher risk of also being removed from our screens.
You don’t need to worry anymore though. Emmerdale and Coronation Street are both made by ITV Studios, which isn’t being sold to Sky. This means they will largely remain the same.
This is also the case for shows including Love Island, I’m A Celebrity and even Line of Duty for the BBC.
Something worth noting though is that content on ITV itself could gradually move behind a paywall. However, the company’s public service broadcasting licence states that they must provide free-to-air service until at least 2034.
It is possible that some less popular shows might get the axe, with the studio then able to find a new platform or cancel filming altogether.
For now though, it’s business as usual for Emmerdale and Corrie.
While Sky’s long-term plans for ITV remain to be seen, the soaps continue to be cornerstones of the broadcaster’s output, giving fans plenty of reason to be optimistic about their future.
This article was originally published on July 6, 2026.
from Metro https://ift.tt/dnzZKEf
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