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    “Star Wars” producers charged over Harrison Ford accident

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1587 Views
    In this December 10, 2015 file photo Harrison Ford walks during a Star Wars fan event in Sydney. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)
    LONDON (AP) --

    British health authorities announced Thursday they have issued criminal charges against the producers of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" over an on-set accident in which Harrison Ford broke his leg.

    The actor was struck by a hydraulic door on the set of the Millennium Falcon – his character Han Solo's spaceship – at Pinewood Studios near London in June 2014. He was airlifted to a hospital where he underwent surgery.

    Production on the film was suspended for two weeks after the injury to Ford, who was 71 at the time.

    The Health and Safety Executive said Thursday it had charged Foodles Production (UK) Ltd. – a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. – with four breaches of workplace health and safety laws.

    It said "by law, employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers – this is as true on a film set as a factory floor."

    Foodles Production said the safety of cast and crew was "a top priority" and it was disappointed by the decision to prosecute.

    The first court hearing is scheduled for May at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court, near the studio.

    "The Force Awakens" is the seventh instalment in the space saga and has taken more than $2 billion at the worldwide box office since its release two months ago.

    Filming is underway on episode eight, directed by Rian Johnson and due for release late next year.

    Tags:Harrison FordStar Wars: The Force Awakens



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    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

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