The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DCMS) has published correspondence concerning the proposed acquisition of ITV M&E Holdings Limited by Sky UK Limited. Letters have been sent to both parties to the transaction — Sky and ITV plc — and contain clarifications regarding the decision to refer the deal review to Phase 1 of regulatory scrutiny. Phase 1 is the initial stage of merger and acquisition deal analysis in the UK, during which regulatory authorities assess the potential impact of the deal on competition and the market as a whole. The decision to refer to this stage means that the regulator intends to examine the terms and consequences of the proposed acquisition in greater detail before making a final decision. The details of the deal itself, as well as the specific reasons that prompted DCMS to initiate the review, are not disclosed in detail in the published information. Nevertheless, the fact of correspondence between the ministry and the deal participants indicates heightened regulatory attention to consolidation in the UK media sector, where Sky and ITV are major players in the broadcasting and media services market. The publication of such correspondence is consistent with the practice of regulatory transparency in the UK, where the public is given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the progress of significant deals in the media and communications sector. Further developments will depend on the results of the Phase 1 review and the decision on whether to proceed to more in-depth analysis.