This cover image released by Del Rey shows, "Gateway," by Frederik Pohl, which is being developed into a drama series by the Syfy channel. (Del Rey via AP)
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --
The Syfy channel is developing a drama series based on Frederik Pohl's novel "Gateway."
In "Gateway," the discovery of an asteroid containing an alien race's abandoned spaceship prompts a gold rush for the advanced technology, Syfy said Wednesday.
The hour-long series will be produced by David Eick ("Battlestar Galactica") and Josh Pate ("Falling Skies"), the channel told a TV critics' meeting.
"Gateway" raises "profound questions about mankind's possible relationship with alien life," Syfy executive Bill McGoldrick said in a statement.
Pohl's 1977 award-winning novel about the alien Heechee race was followed by sequels and was the basis of a video game.
The show's debut date and cast were not announced.
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
