Director Steven Spielberg, left, and actors Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley, right, attend the "Schindler's List" 25th anniversary screening during the Tribeca Film Festival at Beacon Theatre on Thursday, April 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP)
By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --
Steven Spielberg says he hasn't made a film that gave him as much pride or satisfaction since his 1993 Holocaust drama "Schindler's List."
Spielberg, Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and others reunited Thursday night for a 25th anniversary screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival. In a Q&A following the film, Spielberg said it was the first time he had watched "Schindler's List" with an audience in 25 years.
The director said making "Schindler's List" was a traumatic experience for him and many of those involved. He and Kingsley recalled instances of anti-Semitism they encountered during production in Poland, including swastikas that were painted overnight.
To relax, Spielberg said Robin Williams called him every week during the shoot and did 15 minutes of standup over the phone.
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
