In this March 29, 2015 file photo, Taylor Swift arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
NEW YORK (AP) --
Taylor Swift's mega-selling "1989" album has earned her a nomination for top artist at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards.
Swift's competition includes Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, One Direction and Katy Perry. Ludacris and Pete Wentz announced some of the nominees Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America."
Swift's "1989" is a finalist for top Billboard 200 album, where it will battle efforts from Smith, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5 and Pentatonix.
Swift is also up for top female artist and top hot 100 song for the hit "Shake It Off." Smith also earned multiple nominations, including top male artist and top hot 100 song for "Stay With Me." More finalists will be announced later Tuesday.
The show will air live on ABC on May 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen will host the awards show.
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
