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    Mark Burnett, Roma Downey launching faith and family network 

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments4451 Views
    In this May 31, 2015 file photo, Roma Downey, left, and Mark Burnett arrive at the Critics' Choice Television Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    Hollywood power couple Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are launching a faith-and-family entertainment broadcast network next month.

    Light TV will air on Fox stations and affiliates and capitalize on MGM's film and TV library.

    According to a release Wednesday, the round-the-clock network will feature "wholesome family and faith-based" properties, including the films "Rocky" and "Fame" and the TV series "Highway to Heaven."

    Reality TV producer Burnett is known for shows including "The Apprentice," ''The Voice" and "Survivor" and Bible-based miniseries. He is president of MGM Television and Digital.

    His wife, who starred in "Touched by an Angel," is president of LightWorkers, Media, a division of MGM.

    Light TV will launch in December in more than a dozen major TV markets including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas.

    Recently, Burnett was drawn into presidential politics because of President-elect Donald Trump's former role as host of "The Apprentice." The release of "Access Hollywood" audio tape from 2005 with vulgar Trump comments about women led to calls for Burnett to make public any unaired material that might be of interest in the campaign.

    But MGM said in October that it owns the reality show, not Burnett, and could not unilaterally release any unaired, archived material due to existing contractual obligations.

    In the same joint statement, Burnett said he has never been a supporter of Trump's candidacy. He said he felt compelled to issue that statement because of what he called "false media reports" about his supposed support. He said that he and his wife "reject the hatred, division and misogyny" that have been "a very unfortunate part" of Trump's campaign.

    Tags:Light TVMark BurnettRoma Downey



    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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