The UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published correspondence relating to the announced deal whereby Sky UK Limited acquires the ITV Media and Entertainment Holdings Limited structure. The letters are addressed to the leadership of Sky and ITV plc and relate to the regulator's decision that it is "minded to" refer the deal for additional scrutiny. Such 'minded to' letters are typically sent prior to a final decision to refer a deal to specialized bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for more detailed assessment of potential impacts on competition and the public interest, including media plurality. The parties to the deal are given the opportunity to submit their comments and arguments before the regulator makes a final decision. Publication of the correspondence provides public access to the department's position and affords the parties a transparent review procedure. Financial terms of the deal and its full strategic rationale are not disclosed in the document; however, the fact of the correspondence itself indicates that the deal has attracted the attention of UK regulators against the backdrop of a broader trend of increased scrutiny of consolidation in the media industry. Further steps are expected to depend on the companies' responses to the questions raised and on DCMS's final decision regarding the need for a deeper review of the acquisition from the perspective of antitrust legislation and UK media market rules.