This image released by NBC shows Garrett Clayton as Link Larkin, center left, and Derek Hough as Corny Collins, center right, during a rehearsal of "Hairspray Live!," airing on Dec. 7. (Trae Patton/NBC via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) --
NBC's live presentation of the musical "Hairspray" reached 9 million viewers, making it the least-watched of the four musicals it has aired, starting when the 2013 presentation of "The Sound of Music" created a sensation.
The Nielsen company said Thursday that the three-hour telecast did manage to beat Fox's hit "Empire" head-to-head. It was also NBC's top-rated Wednesday night show among young viewers in four years, excluding Olympic telecasts.
Three years ago "The Sound of Music: Live!" reached 18.6 million viewers. NBC's presentation of "Peter Pan: Live!" dipped to 9.2 million in 2014 but ratings rebounded for "The Wiz: Live!" in 2015. That show reached 11.5 million people.
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
