Report on Sky's ITV stake delayed

The Competition Commission's report on Sky's acquisition of 17.9% of ITV shares is to be delayed by eight weeks.

The commission announced on Monday that the report will now be published on January 2, not the original date of November 7, because the process was "a complex reference dealing with both competition and media public interest considerations."

A statement by Peter Freeman, the commission's chairman, said: "A large amount of evidence has been received from many parties, which has required a substantial amount of analysis. The Group therefore concluded that the preparation and delivery of the report would not have been possible within the original reference period."

The Department of Trade and Industry ordered the report in May, after the Office of Fair Trading suggested Sky's stake in ITV raised competition concerns.

Sky made the £940 million acquisition in November last year. The satellite broadcaster claims that it sees the stake as an investment, and would not seek to influence ITV's business.