In this May 11, 2014 file photo, director Gareth Edwards poses for photographers on the red carpet for the UK premiere of Godzilla in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP, File)
By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --
Director Gareth Edwards says he gave himself a cameo in the "Star Wars" spinoff "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." But, as with most things "Star Wars," Edwards is staying mum on what exactly that entails.
The reveal, he said, might have to wait for the DVD extras.
Edwards is a self-proclaimed "Star Wars" super fan and has said that as a child he used to watch the first 10 minutes of the 1977 "Star Wars" every day before school.
"Rogue One" is set right before the events of that original film and chronicles the saga of the rebels who steal the plans for the Death Star. Arriving in theaters on Dec. 16, "Rogue One" is the first in a series of spinoffs set inside the universe of "Star Wars."
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
