In this Nov. 10, 2014 file photo, Mark Wahlberg arrives at the 2014 AFI Fest - "The Gambler," in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
CBS Films says Mark Wahlberg is set to produce "Patriots' Day," a feature film about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing based on Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis' firsthand account.
The studio announced Tuesday that Matt Charman ("Bridge of Spies") is writing the screenplay, which will span the five-day investigation and hunt to apprehend the suspects: Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who died in a shootout days after the bombing, and his brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
The April 2013 attack killed three people and injured more than 260. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is on trial facing the death penalty.
CBS Films, which secured Davis' life rights for the film, will work alongside "60 Minutes" senior producer Michael Radutzky to bring the thriller to the big screen.
"60 Minutes" broadcast an in-depth look at Davis' role in tracking down the suspects.
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
