Disney A+E stake sale to Hearst expected to top $1 billion
Disney is expected to sell its half of A+E Global Media to Hearst, giving Hearst full control of Lifetime, History and A&E.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Disney A+E stake sale is nearing the finish line, with Hearst expected to buy Disney’s 50% holding in A+E Global Media in a deal valued at more than $1 billion, Variety reported, citing a person familiar with the plans.
The transaction would hand Hearst full ownership of the cable-heavy media company, which the two companies have controlled together for more than a decade. Variety reported that the deal is expected to close next week and be announced alongside Disney’s quarterly earnings on Aug. 5.
Representatives for Disney, Hearst and A+E Global Media did not immediately respond to Variety’s requests for comment, according to the report.
What is Disney selling to Hearst?
Disney is expected to sell its half of A+E Global Media, the company previously known as A+E Networks. A+E operates cable channels and production businesses tied to some of the most familiar names on the pay-TV dial.
Its cable networks include A&E Network, Lifetime, History, Lifetime Movie Network, FYI and Vice TV, according to Variety. The company’s other holdings include A+E Studios, A+E Factual Studio, A&E IndieFilms and A+E Global Media Digital.
A+E also runs streaming apps, including the subscription video services Lifetime Movie Club and History Vault, Variety reported.
Disney has been looking to part with its A+E stake for at least a year, according to Variety. The expected sale would leave Hearst as the sole owner of the business.
In Disney’s 10-Q filing for the March 2026 quarter, the company listed the carrying value of its A+E investment at about $2 billion. Disney also recorded a $147 million impairment charge tied to its investment in A+E Global Media during that quarter, Variety reported.
An impairment charge is an accounting move that reduces the stated value of an asset when a company determines it is worth less than previously recorded. In this case, Disney’s filing linked that charge to its A+E investment.
Who will run A+E Global Media after the sale?
Paul Buccieri, A+E Global Media’s president and chairman, is expected to remain in charge after Disney leaves the joint venture, according to Variety.
After the deal, Buccieri would report to Hearst CEO Steve Swartz, the report said.
The expected purchase would bring a long-running joint venture fully under Hearst at a time when traditional cable businesses continue to be watched closely by media companies and investors. Variety’s report did not include a stated reason from Disney, Hearst or A+E for the planned sale.
For Disney, the reported deal would turn a long-held A+E position into a cash transaction worth more than $1 billion. For Hearst, it would mean full control of the company behind Lifetime, History and A&E, along with its related studios, digital units and subscription streaming apps.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.