DirecTV Backs Out of Deal to Acquire Dish TV

EchoStar has hit a stumbling block in its efforts to refocus its business on Boost Mobile. EchoStar previously reached an agreement to sell its Dish satellite TV business — including its Sling streaming TV service — to DirecTV. At the time, EchoStar said the deal would allow it to "focus more clearly" on building Boost's new 5G network. Now DirecTV has decided to terminate the deal, after failing to reach an agreement on the details of how to handle existing debt.