“Is this one worth a billion dollars?” asks Francois Godard, media analyst at Enders Analysis. “DAZN has yet to break even in its established markets like Germany, Italy and Spain, and it has just launched premium coverage in France, a new venture that will need a while to become cash positive.” Godard concludes DAZN may have other reasons to go into such a partnership.

Godard says the deal will expand DAZN’s reach in the US where it is mostly associated with boxing. DAZN added that the deal isn’t restricted to the tournament but relates to a broader partnership with FIFA.

Streaming shows can't be included in the profit calculation as subscribers don't specifically pay to watch each one but instead are billed a flat fee which gives them access to all of the content. As Tom Harrington of media consultants Enders Analysis explains, "given the structure of the streaming model it is almost impossible to robustly attribute profitability to any single piece of content." Therein lies the problem.

If confirmed, the amount put on the table would be "significant for a channel that has never been profitable," notes François Godard, from the Enders Analysis firm. But the free service could still "pull up advertising revenue," which DAZN relies on to make money.

The deal will increase pressure on other mobile operators in the UK, according to Karen Egan, senior telecoms analyst at Enders.

BT Group Plc’s mobile network EE will face the “greatest challenges in adapting to the new market structure,” with everyone under pressure to invest more in their networks, she added.

Analyst Karen Egan at Enders Analysis said the approval was the right outcome, with the alternative a slow painful retreat by Hutchison.

"Three high quality networks instead of four inferior ones will serve consumers and businesses better, and the industry can move away from the low returns, low investment cycle that has dogged it," Egan said.

Karen Egan, head of telecoms at Enders Analysis, said the CMA’s decision was “a sensible way of giving the companies what they need to survive whilst ensuring that consumers are protected from a pricing perspective and getting the uplift in network quality that the merger promises”.

Hamish Low, a research analyst at Enders Analysis, said Intel had issues during Gelsinger's tenure getting operations ready for the AI boom while dealing with the internal challenges of separating its foundry division from its design business.

"This long, drawn-out corporate process of trying to get your own house in order, when that's your focus, clearly generative AI just skipped right by," Low told Business Insider.

He added that Intel was long known as "the x86 CPU company," referring to its architecture for more general computer chips. The AI world runs on chips known as GPUs loaded into servers, so trying to shift focus while restructuring the business proved tough.

"When it suddenly is GPUs and accelerated computers, it was always going to be a tough challenge to pivot into doing those kinds of server GPU chips," he said.

Gill Hind, director of TV at Enders Analysis, says: “Quite clearly, ITV as a company is undervalued and ITV Studios is undervalued compared to its peers ... It’s a very strong production studio, not just in the UK but globally.”

But analysts question the benefits of cross-border broadcasting mergers and the ease of hiving off ITV’s production business, given it sells many of its shows to the channel.

Hind describes the prospect of a takeover as “interesting”, but adds: “I’m still slightly sceptical about whether it will go ahead.”

Last week, ITV enjoyed a rare boost on the stock market as rumours swirled that bidders were circling. But for City viewers, this is a repeat episode. Analysts have for decadesidentified ITV as an undervalued asset ripe for the plucking. Yet no such deal has materialised. “It is the longest-running saga,” said Claire Enders, the boss of media advisory firm Enders Analysis. “It has been spoken of for beyond 20 years.”

Enders said: “She has a lot of sympathy and understanding from everybody in this industry.” And Jonathan Shalit, the boss of talent manager InterTalent Rights Group, said: “She’s built the best commercial streaming platform in the UK. She’s crafted a real A-list of commissioners and programme makers at ITV. I think she’s an exceptional individual.”