Great British Bake Off could be set to leave Channel 4 thanks to a huge new television merger. The hit baking competition is made by Love Productions, which is currently owned by Sky – but will soon be an ITV property thanks to a new deal between the two TV heavyweights. ITV will receive Love Productions as part of a £1.6bn deal, sparking speculation over whether Bake Off could move channels for a second time in the show’s history. A source told The Sun: “The whole industry is talking about Bake Off moving yet again, which would be a tremendous coup for ITV but bad news for C4 as it is their most-watched show.”The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment. Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will be back on our screens later this year (Channel 4)Bake Off debuted on the BBC in 2010 and became one of the broadcaster’s biggest hits, before moving to Channel 4 in 2017. A new series, featuring Nigella Lawson in a judging role alongside Paul Hollywood, will air later this year. Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond will return as presenters. The Sky-ITV deal will see ITV’s terrestrial television channels and its streaming service, ITVX, merge with Sky, creating a new entity designed to challenge global streaming giants.The deal does not include ITV Studios, the broadcaster’s production arm responsible for hit shows such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and the critically-acclaimed drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.ITV Studios will become a “pure-play global content business” with a long-term agreement to supply content to the newly combined Sky and ITV, according to the broadcaster.Nigella Lawson will make her Bake Off debut in the next series (PA)Sky has committed to spending at least £2.1 billion on the partnership between 2028 and 2032. Addressing what will happen after this point, Sky CEO Dana Strong said: "As long as consumers love Coronation Street, we will absolutely be delivering Coronation Street. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent."So we've got all of the shows that consumers love in a five-year contract. That's a pretty long contract, as you know, in our industry. So I have no concerns about what happens after that. You just start negotiations for continuation.” Under the terms of the deal, Sky will also pay £1.2 billion for ITV’s broadcasting unit and sell Love Productions to ITV for £200 million.