This June 18, 2017, file photo shows actor Jerrod Carmichael posing for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Transformers The Last Knight' in London. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
Jerrod Carmichael says he's leaving "The Carmichael Show," ending it after three seasons.
The comedian announced his departure from the NBC sitcom Friday.
NBC released a statement from NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt and President Jennifer Salke saying they were "enormously proud" of Carmichael's show and its combination of family sitcom elements with relevant social issues.
The 30-year-old co-creator and star wrote in a statement that he got to make a show that he loves with his friends, which is something he'd wanted to do since he was 13. He says he is now looking forward to other opportunities. He announced last year that he is writing a book that will be published by Random House.
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
