In this Sept. 4, 2017 file photo, actress Frances McDormand poses for photographers at the premiere of ''Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri', during the 74th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
By Marcela Isaza
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
Even Frances McDormand admits she's getting tired of collecting trophies for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" but she picked up one more from a group near to her heart.
The Oscar nominee accepted best actress at the African American Film Critics Association Awards.
McDormand says in her Wednesday speech that this was an event she wanted to attend; she skipped the annual Oscar nominees luncheon earlier this week.
She also says she's tired of patting herself on the back and the self-congratulatory nature of awards season.
Other honorees included Jordan Peele, who won best director and picture for "Get Out"; Daniel Kaluuya won for best actor.
Director and liberal activist Rob Reiner received an award for social justice.
Ava DuVernay and the cast of "Queen Sugar" won best drama series.
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 โ 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