EchoStar nears deal to sell Dish to DirecTV with $2 billion debt payment looming

Charlie Ergen is getting close to selling the pay-TV business he founded more than 40 years ago. EchoStar is in advanced talks to sell satellite TV provider Dish Network to rival DirecTV, the closely held pay TV operator owned by private-equity firm TPG and AT&T, according to people familiar with the matter. While the sides hope to complete a deal by Monday, no deal is assured, and the talks may still fall apart, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. The combination ...