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    Veteran NBC producer Jim Bell joins Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight”

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1841 Views
    In this Aug. 3, 2017 file photo, Jim Bell, participates in "The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics" panel during the NBC Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. NBC announced Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, that Bell will serve as showrunner for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    Veteran NBC sports and news producer Jim Bell is the new producer in charge of "The Tonight Show."

    NBC said Wednesday that Bell is starting immediately with the late-night show hosted by Jimmy Fallon.

    Bell's wide-ranging career at NBC includes producing the "Today" morning show and creating its fourth hour.

    He worked on 12 Olympic Games and last year was promoted to president of NBC Olympics Production & Programming.

    Bell's addition to "Tonight" follows the exit of longtime Fallon producer Mike DiCenzo, who tweeted Monday he was leaving after a "dream" decade in late-night.

    Katie Hockmeyer and Gerard Bradford will retain their producing duties on "Tonight," NBC said.

    NBC said Bell will be the showrunner, a term used for the producer overseeing a program, as well as executive in charge.

    Tags:Jim BellThe Tonight Show



    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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