In this Wednesday, March 4, 2015 file photo, Meryl Streep waves to photographers during the Japan premiere of "Into the Woods" in Tokyo. Historical drama “Suffragette,” which stars Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep as votes-for-women campaigners, will open this year’s London Film Festival. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
LONDON (AP) --
Historical drama "Suffragette," starring Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep as votes-for-women campaigners, will open this year's London Film Festival.
Organizers say the film's European premiere will kick off the 59th annual festival Oct. 7.
Helena Bonham Carter also appears in the drama about the campaigners who risked life and liberty to fight for women's suffrage a century ago. It's directed by Sarah Gavron ("Brick Lane") and written by Abi Morgan ("The Iron Lady.")
It is the first commercial feature which has been allowed to film inside London's Houses of Parliament.
Festival director Clare Stewart said Wednesday "Suffragette" was "an urgent and compelling film — made by British women, about British women who changed the course of history."
The full program for the Oct 7-18 festival will be announced in September.
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
