- Hearst acquires Disney’s half-share in A+E Global Media for $1.2 billion
- Move marks Disney’s strategic shift from linear television to streaming and sports
- A+E continues expansion under Hearst, strengthening international content reach and multiplatform growth
Hearst has agreed to buy The Walt Disney Company’s half-share in A+E Global Media for about $1.2 billion in cash, giving the privately held media group full control of a television business that includes A&E, Lifetime and the History Channel, according to Reuters.
The sale, announced this week, is expected to complete in September. Once the transaction closes, A+E Global Media will sit entirely within Hearst’s entertainment arm, ending a long-running 50-50 ownership structure between Hearst and Disney that has been in place for more than a decade.
Disney’s decision to sell fits a wider effort to concentrate capital on streaming and sports, while reducing exposure to declining linear television assets. The company has been steadily reshaping its portfolio as cable subscriptions continue to fall and legacy channels lose some of their value in a shifting media market.
A+E Global Media reaches more than 414 million households in 200 territories and 40 languages, and its channels have remained a meaningful part of the international factual and entertainment landscape. In March, the company announced a new multiyear deal with Nielsen covering audience measurement and media intelligence across its linear and digital brands, underscoring its continuing focus on advertising and programming strategy even as ownership changes.
In April, A+E also joined Mercurius Media Capital as a strategic limited partner, a move that highlighted its efforts to deepen ties with consumer brands and expand its multiplatform audience monetisation. The company has said it will continue to grow its content business across platforms and markets after the change in control.
Hearst chief executive Steven Swartz said the company looked forward to supporting Paul Buccieri and his leadership team as they continue building around the History, Lifetime and A&E brands. Buccieri, president and chairman of A+E Global Media, said the business would keep expanding its content reach internationally.
For Hearst, the deal strengthens an entertainment portfolio that already spans newspapers, magazines, healthcare information and financial services, while also increasing its indirect exposure to ESPN through its 18 per cent stake in the sports network. For Disney, the sale marks another step away from traditional television and towards businesses it sees as offering stronger growth.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://indiantelevision.com/mam/hearst-buys-disneys-ae-stake-in-1-2-billion-deal-takes-full-control/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2026/ae-global-media-signs-new-multiyear-deal-with-nielsen-covering-audience-measurement-and-media-intelligence/ – In March 2026, A+E Global Media and Nielsen announced a new multiyear agreement for audience measurement and media intelligence services. This deal encompasses A+E’s linear and digital brands, including A&E, Lifetime, The HISTORY Channel, and LMN. Nielsen will provide ratings and data to assist A+E in developing advertising, programming, and licensing strategies. The partnership also includes licensing new Nielsen services such as National Respondent Level Data, Audience Builder, and the Data-Driven Linear API, building upon existing services like Streaming Content Ratings and Ad Intel.
- https://legalclarity.org/who-owns-ae-the-disney-and-hearst-joint-venture/ – A+E Global Media, the parent company behind A&E, History, and Lifetime, is jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications in a 50-50 split. This structure has been in place for over a decade, with both companies sharing equal equity and decision-making authority. In early 2025, Disney and Hearst hired Wells Fargo to explore a potential sale of the entire venture, indicating possible changes in ownership dynamics.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260429806533/en/AE-Global-Media-Joins-Mercurius-Media-Capital-as-Strategic-Limited-Partner – In April 2026, A+E Global Media joined Mercurius Media Capital (MMC) as a Strategic Limited Partner. This partnership aims to provide growth-stage consumer brands with access to A+E’s extensive multiplatform audiences, enabling them to compete with established players. In return, A+E gains early positioning with brands built for its viewers and an opportunity to accelerate and capitalise on their growth. The collaboration combines A+E’s reach and programming credibility with MMC’s deal flow and media-for-equity structure.
- https://mediasolutions.aegm.com/ – A+E Media Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of services, including premium original content across various genres such as history, documentaries, movies, features, biography, pop culture, and lifestyle. Their core brands deliver trusted storytelling, with HISTORY focusing on premium narratives exploring significant historical moments and figures, and Lifetime serving as a premier entertainment destination for women, offering high-quality original movies and series created by women, for women.
- https://legalclarity.org/who-owns-lifetime-the-disney-and-hearst-joint-venture/ – Lifetime is jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications, each holding a 50% stake through their shared media venture, A+E Global Media. This joint venture operates Lifetime alongside several other cable brands, managing everything from programming decisions to distribution deals. The ownership structure has been in place for over a decade, with both companies sharing equal equity and decision-making authority. However, there have been discussions about a potential sale of the entire venture, indicating possible changes in ownership dynamics.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%2BE_Global_Media – A+E Global Media, formerly known as A+E Networks, is an American multinational broadcasting company operating as a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company. The company owns several non-fiction and entertainment-based television brands, including A&E, History Channel, Lifetime, and FYI, along with their associated sister channels. A+E Global Media’s portfolio extends across platforms and genres, with content reaching more than 414 million households in over 200 territories and 40 languages.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The news article reports a recent acquisition by Hearst of Disney’s 50% stake in A+E Global Media for $1.2 billion, announced on Tuesday and expected to complete in September. This is current and has not been previously reported.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Steven Swartz, CEO of Hearst, and Paul Buccieri, president and chairman of A+E Global Media. These quotes are not found in earlier material, indicating originality.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The article cites Reuters as the source, a reputable and independent news organisation known for its accuracy and reliability.
Plausibility check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about Hearst acquiring Disney’s stake in A+E Global Media align with industry trends of media companies restructuring and focusing on core assets. The details provided are specific and consistent with known business practices.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article meets all verification standards with high confidence. It presents original, current information from a reputable source, with specific details and direct quotes that are not found elsewhere. There are no significant concerns regarding freshness, source reliability, or content type.
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