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    Kelly Ripa, John Oliver among recipients of GLAAD awards

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments956 Views
    Judith Light, left, and Jeffrey Tambor, right, attend the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the Waldorf Astoria on Saturday, May 9, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

    By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Kelly Ripa, John Oliver and Thomas Roberts are among the recipients of the 26th annual GLAAD Media Awards.

    The awards honor those who further GLAAD's mission of ensuring that stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are heard through media outlets.

    A presentation ceremony was set for Saturday night in New York. Other honorees included Time magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, Univision.com and Sports Illustrated.

    Ripa received GLAAD's Excellence in Media award for her discussion and interviews with LGBT guests and supporters on the talk show "Live! with Kelly and Michael."

    "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" was honored as best talk show episode for a segment on Ugandan transgender activist Pepe Julian Onziema.

    TV journalist and anchor Roberts received the Vito Russo Award, named for GLAAD's co-founder and presented to an out LGBT media figure who has made a significant difference in promoting equality. 

    Tags:GLAAD



    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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