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    Toronto International Film Festival ready for primetime with focus on TV

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments895 Views
    An audience at the Toronto International Film Festival.
    TORONTO --

    The 2015 Toronto International Film Festival shines a spotlight on episodic storytelling with Primetime, a new program presenting the best in international television on the big screen. The lineup will showcase up to six high-quality programs that demonstrate the strength of contemporary television coming from broadcasters, streaming services or independent filmmakers.

    “What better way to celebrate our 40th anniversary than with a program that focuses on the new golden era of television that’s currently producing high-quality global programming, terrific writing, and direction that rivals the best feature filmmaking,” said Piers Handling, director and CEO of TIFF. “The Festival has explored this area for years and we’re thrilled to provide an exclusive platform for these strong creative voices.”

    “Film and television have been converging for years, with many filmmakers gravitating to television to experiment with that medium,” said Cameron Bailey, artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival. “Primetime will highlight these developments internationally, spotlighting the growing intersection between these two moving-image cultures and industries.”

    The Primetime lineup will be announced in the coming months. The program will include public screenings and Q&A sessions with show creators. The Festival’s Industry Conference will incorporate leading creative producers and thinkers from the world of long-form and episodic storytelling.

    The 40th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10-20, 2015.

    Tags:Piers HandlingToronto International Film Festival



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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