Dana Strong, the chief executive of Sky, has said that ITV will remain a “deeply British” business after her company agreed a £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) takeover of a crown jewel of UK broadcasting.

"ITV Studios is not for sale," Carolyn McCall, boss of U.K. media conglomerate ITV, firmly told Variety three years ago. Despite persistent rumors the global production powerhouse was going to be snapped up – including potentially by Banijay or RedBird IMI – McCall has stayed true to her word.

Sky and ITV will look at opportunities for synergy in sports broadcasting, but protected sport rights will remain on ITV's free-to-air television channels.— This story first appears at TheDesk.net, a premium source for original news and analysis on the business of media and technology.

ITV Studios will be able to stand on its own two feet when it becomes an independent studio, bosses at ITV said today. Following the news Comcast-owned Sky has struck a £1.6B (£2.1B) agreement to buy the ITV networks and streaming business,

Following news on Monday morning that NBCUniversal-owned Sky is acquiring 70-year-old British public service broadcaster ITV, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall joined a series of calls with investors and media

A £1.6bn deal has been agreed.

US telecoms giant Comcast will buy ITV’s free-to-air channels and streaming service to create the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster.