Softbank to Acquire Sprint

Japan's SoftBank on October 15, 2012 announced a $20 billion takeover of Sprint Nextel, a deal expected to close in mid-2013. Softbank will get a 70 percent stake in Sprint Nextel by buying $12.1 billion in existing shares, at $6.30 per share. Softbank will also buy $8 billion in new Sprint shares the Kansas City-based company will issue at $5.25 per share. If the deal doesn't go through, Sprint will receive a $600 million break-up fee.

However, Dish Network offered to buy sprint offering $7 a share. SoftBank countered Dish's offer on June 10, 2013 with a sweetened package--$16.6 billion to Sprint shareholders plus $5 billion in new capital--that includes:

* $7.48 per share
* A pledge from Sprint that any improved offer will be accompanied with "committed financing" (the pledge has been accepted by Sprint)
* Although not asked by SoftBank, Sprint went ahead on June 11, 2013, and included a "poison pill" that prohibits any outside investor other than SoftBank to acquire more than 17 percent of the company.

However, with sweetened offer, SoftBank will acquire 78 percent, instead of 70 percent, of Sprint.

On June 21, 2013, Dish Network ended its effort to acquire Sprint. Dish offered $25.5 billion to acquire all of Sprint as opposed to Softbank's $21.6 billion offer to own 78 percent of the new company.

On June 25, 2013, Sprint Nextel Corporation's shareholders approved the sale to Softbank.

 

ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, MetroPCS and T-Mobile to Join Forces

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MetroPCS and T-Mobile to Join Forces

On October 3, 2012, Richardson-based MetroPCS announced that it would join with T-Mobile, bringing its 9.3 million subscribers with T-Mobile's 33.2 million customer base. After the merger, Deutsche Telekom will own 74 percent of the combined company, while MetroPCS shareholders will own the remaining 26 percent. The new entity will be run by T-Mobile's CEO John Legere. The deal has been structured like a reverse stock split, where MetroPCS will absorb the Bellevue, Washington-based company, and its (MetroPCS') shareholders will get a cash payment of $1.5 billion, or about $4 per share.

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Protests Erupt over Yanking Jimmy Kimmel Show

The monologue made by Jimmy Kimmel on September 15, 2025 night on the ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! show angered many conservatives. Kimmel said during the monologue: "we had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it". FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the license of ABC affiliates over the Kimmel show on the ground of "public interest". In the aftermath of the controversy, Disney yanked the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show indefinitely. However, the pushback against this high-handed measure was also unprecedented. Liberal groups rallied behind Kimmel. The WGA held rally in Los Angeles. Even, Sen. Ted Cruz, a Kimmel bete noire, on September 19, 2025 called on his podcast that the FCC chair's threat was akin to that of a mafioso.