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Comcast-owned Sky's talks with ITV about buying its broadcast channels and streaming platform have slowed in recent weeks, three people with knowledge of the matter said, as the battle to buy Warner Bros Discovery disrupts the industry.
ITV (OTCMKTS:ITVPY - Get Free Report) and E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ: SSP - Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership. Insider and Institutional Ownership 51.4% of ITV shares
Bloomberg's 2025 Dividend Focus list highlights 36 dividend payers, with 16 qualifying as 'safer' due to free cash flow yields exceeding dividend yields. Top ten dividend stocks, including OZK, SLB, WM, and SUBCY, are projected to offer 12.5%-26.5% net gains by November 2026 based on analyst targets. Five 'IDEAL' stocks—CHHQF, VODAF, SUBCY, ITVPY, AVIFY—offer dividends from $1,000 invested that exceed their single share price, signaling potential buy opportunities.
Nothing concentrates the mind like a suitor in the wings. After ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) last week confirmed Comcast is in talks to buy the UK broadcaster's Media & Entertainment arm (the broadcast and streaming bit), UBS ran the numbers on what that could mean, while keeping a cool head and a 'sell' rating with a 12-month target of 72p, 7p lower than the current price.
Confirmation from ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) on Friday morning that it is in talks with Sky about the possible sale of its broadcast arm sent the shares surging and reignited speculation about a long-awaited break-up of the group. Analysts said offloading the slower-growth Media & Entertainment division, as is being discussed, could create substantial value for shareholders, but warned of likely regulatory hurdles.
A deal would bulk up Comcast's footprint in Europe, where it already owns pay-TV operator Sky, and leave British broadcaster ITV focused on its studios operations.
ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) has confirmed that it is in preliminary talks about potentially selling its broadcast television business to Sky. It said the discussions are currently about a possible offer at an enterprise value of £1.6 billion for its Media & Entertainment business, which includes online streaming service ITVX.
UK network has confirmed it is talks with Sky owner Comcast over a £1.6B ($2.1B) sale of its Media & Entertainment business. News of the potential deal emerged overnight, with Comcast hoping to add the main ITV network, its suite of linear channels and the ITVX streaming business.
ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) shares slipped 0.8% to 67.95p on Thursday despite the broadcaster posting stronger-than-expected revenue for the first nine months of 2025 and reaffirming its full-year outlook. The company reported a 2% rise in total group revenue to £2.8 billion, driven by an 11% increase in ITV Studios sales and a 15% jump in digital advertising.
UK network ITV is planning to save another £35M ($45.7M) in the coming quarter, despite posting steady year-to-date group revenues. In a Q3 trading update, the broadcaster and content group said it had identified the additional temporary savings” in its Media & Entertainment division, which houses its linear networks and streamer ITVX.
Shares in ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) dropped over 8% to 68.25p after Virgin Media owner Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA) sold half its stake, having held it for just over a decade. The US company sold 193,365,540 shares, equivalent to selling a 5% stake in the broadcaster for approximately £135 million.
Bloomberg Intelligence highlights 50 Companies to Watch for 2025, focusing on catalysts like leadership changes, M&A, and sector trends such as AI and EVs. Dogcatcher analysis identifies 13 dividend-paying stocks as 'safer,' with free cash flow yields exceeding dividend yields, including AVGO, KLAC, FOX, TPR, and WM. Top ten dividend focus stocks, including SLB, UPS, and WM, are projected to deliver average net gains of 17.63% by September 2026, with moderate risk.
I focus on 14 'safer' dividend stocks from Bloomberg's 50 Companies to Watch, where free cash flow yield exceeds dividend yield, signaling strong sustainability. Five 'IDEAL' stocks—China Hongqiao, ITV, Vodacom, Subsea 7, and Advanced Info—offer dividends from $1,000 invested that surpass their share price, marking them as top watchlist candidates. Analysts project average net-gains of 17.34% for the top ten dividend focus stocks by August 2026, with risk profiles varying across the group.
ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) shares climbed 10% after the broadcaster issued confident full-year guidance, prompting analysts to raise their forecasts despite a 31% drop in underlying first-half profits. Group revenue fell 3% to £1.85 billion as total advertising revenue slipped 7%, but this decline was less severe than expected thanks to a 12% rise in digital advertising.
ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) saw underlying profits fall 31% in the first half of the year as advertising revenue fell less than expected. Group revenue fell 3% to £1.85 billion as total advertising revenue (TAR) fell 7%, better than the 8% decline that management had previously guided as digital advertising revenue grew 12%.
Bloomberg's 50 Companies to Watch leverages catalysts like new leadership, AI, and policy shifts to identify high-potential stocks for 2025. Yield-based 'dogcatcher' analysis spotlights 15 dividend payers with strong free cash flow, with five 'IDEAL' stocks signaling safer, buy-worthy dividends. Top ten dividend focus stocks project an average 16.69% net gain by July 2026, with risk profiles generally below market averages.
ITV PLC (LSE:ITV) shares rose after the broadcaster announced a new partnership with Disney that will see the pair swap content. Disney+ viewers will soon be able to watch a selection of ITV favourites under a dedicated section titled “A Taste of ITVX”.
U.S. entertainment giant Walt Disney and British broadcaster ITV will carry a selection of each other's shows on their respective streaming platforms, Disney+ and ITVX, to help attract new audiences, the companies said on Thursday.
ITV PLC (LSE:ITV), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA, ETR:CTP2)-owned Sky TV and Channel 4 are joining forces to take on tech giants Meta and Google by launching a shared advertising platform for their streaming services. The initiative aims to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to buy TV ad space using a “self-serve” model, similar to those used by Facebook and YouTube, enabling campaigns to be booked quickly without an agency.
I highlight 15 dividend-paying stocks from Bloomberg's 50 Companies to Watch that meet my 'safer' criteria: free cash flow yields exceed dividend yields. The top ten dividend focus stocks offer an estimated average net gain of 15.48% by June 2026, with diversified sector representation and generally lower volatility. Five stocks - China Hongqiao, ITV, Vodacom, Subsea 7, and Advanced Info - stand out as 'ideal' for income investors, combining safety and attractive yield-to-price ratios.