Hearst Communications to Acquire Disney's A+E Global Media Stake for $1.2 Billion

Hearst Communications will acquire The Walt Disney Company's 50% stake in A+E Global Media for approximately $1.2 billion in cash. The transaction, expected to close in September 2026 pending customary conditions, ends a joint venture between the two media companies that began in 1984.

A+E Global Media, the parent company of brands including History, Lifetime, and A&E Network, will operate as a wholly owned business within the entertainment division of Hearst Communications. The company reaches over 414 million households across 200 territories and includes linear channels such as FYI and Vice TV, as well as A+E Studios and various streaming services.

Paul Buccieri will remain as president and chairman of the company. The acquisition follows a strategic effort by A+E Global Media to diversify revenue through high-end production and FAST channels to mitigate the impact of cord-cutting and the decline of traditional pay TV. Hearst Communications CEO Steven R. Swartz credited the decades of successful partnership with Disney, while Buccieri noted that the company's vast library of owned assets and brand versatility provide a key advantage in a fragmented media environment.