Disney Expected to Sell 50% Stake in A+E to Hearst for More Than $1 Billion

Disney is getting ready to shed its ownership stake in A+E Global Media, the cable-focused programmer it has owned jointly with Hearst for more than a decade. Disney will sell its 50% stake in A+E Global Media (formerly known as A+E Networks) to Hearst, in a transaction valued at over $1 billion, a source familiar with the plans confirmed. The sale, giving Hearst 100% control over A+E going forward, is expected to be finalized next week and announced in conjunction with Disney’s quarterly earnings on Aug. 5. Reps for Hearst, Disney and A+E did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Popular on Variety In a blog post Thursday, LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield, in a preview of Disney earnings, wrote, “We believe Disney will announce the sale of its 50% stake in A&E Networks to its joint venture partner, Hearst, in an all-cash transaction at a low single-digit EBITDA multiple.” Disney, in its 10-Q filing with the SEC for the March 2026 quarter, said its investment in A+E had a carrying value of approximately $2 billion. In accounting, “carrying value” is the original cost of an asset minus accumulated depreciation or amortization, per Investopedia. During the quarter, the media company took a $147 million charge for an impairment of its investment in A+E Global Media. Disney has been looking to sell its stake in A+E for at least a year. After Disney exits the joint venture, A+E Global Media president and chairman Paul Buccieri will continue to run the company, reporting to Hearst CEO Steve Swartz. A+E’s cable networks include A&E Network, Lifetime, History, Lifetime Movie Network, FYI and Vice TV. Its assets also encompass content units A+E Studios, A+E Factual Studio, A&E IndieFilms, A+E Global Media Digital as well as streaming apps including subscription-video services including Lifetime Movie Club, Crime 360 and History Vault. In 2009, A&E Television Networks — then a partnership among Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst and NBCUniversal — acquired Lifetime Entertainment Services. In 2012, NBCU sold its 15.8% stake in A&E Networks to Disney and Hearst.