[Satellite TODAY 11-20-09] Liberty Media shareholders have approved initiatives proposed by the company to separate itself from Liberty Entertainment and related entertainment businesses in order to combine Liberty Entertainment with the DirecTV Group, Liberty Media announced Nov. 19.
    Liberty Entertainment will be split into two temporary units, which will both be called Liberty Entertainment. One of the units will include DirecTV interest, other networks, $80 million in cash, $2 billion in debt and will later be merged  with the other unit under the DirecTV name, Liberty Media said.
    The split, originally proposed by Liberty Media in May, will see its 57 percent interest in DirecTV Group and the separation of its Starz Entertainment business consolidated into its own stock. Liberty Entertainment currently houses all of Liberty Media’s interest in Starz Entertainment, as well as its interest in DirecTV, three regional sports networks, a 65 percent interest in cable channels GSN and FUN Technologies, WildBlue Communications and online entities PicksPal and Fanball.
    The move follows the appointment of PepsiCo. CEO Michael White as DirecTV’s new CEO, announced Nov. 18. White will assume his new role on Jan. 1.

Pepsi CEO Appointed to Lead DirecTV   Satellite Today   November 19, 2009
[Satellite TODAY 11-19-09] DirecTV named Pepsi Co. CEO Michael White as its new president and CEO, replacing DirecTV interim CEO Larry Hunter effective Jan. 1, DirecTV announced Nov. 18.

DirecTV Increases Free Cash Flow 94 Percent in Strong Third Quarter Performance   Satellite Today   November 6, 2009
[Satellite TODAY 11-06-09] The DirecTV Group reported a 94 percent increase in its free cash flow to $643 Million in its 2009 third quarter results, released Nov. 5.

DirecTV Secures Low-Interest $2 Billion Financing   Satellite Today   September 23, 2009
[Satellite TODAY 09-23-09] DirecTV has secured $2 billion in debt financing, the company announced Sept. 22.