In this Nov. 5, 2018 file photo, Bruce Springsteen performs at the 12th annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit concert at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Springsteen surprised moviegoers by introducing his new concert film in his New Jersey hometown. The Asbury Park Press reports Springsteen introduced two showings of "Western Stars" at the AMC Loews Freehold Metroplex Cinema in Freehold on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP, File)
FREEHOLD, NJ (AP) --
Bruce Springsteen surprised moviegoers by introducing his new concert film in his New Jersey hometown.
The Asbury Park Press reports Springsteen introduced two showings of "Western Stars" at the AMC Loews Freehold Metroplex Cinema in Freehold on Saturday.
Springsteen is a native of Freehold borough.
Springsteen told audiences that since his band knew it wasn't going to tour, he had to try to figure out a way to bring the music to his audience.
"Western Stars" is a concert film shot in a barn in front of a small audience at Springsteen's property in Colts Neck.
The music album "Western Stars" was released in June.
A second preview screening is scheduled for Wednesday. The film hits theaters on Friday.
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
