Disney sells 50% of AE Global to Hearst for $1.2 billion

The Walt Disney Company has sold its 50 percent stake in AE Global Media to its longtime joint venture partner, Hearst, for approximately $1.2 billion in cash. The transaction, announced on August 4, 2026, ends a 42-year partnership and is expected to close in September, subject to customary closing conditions.

Upon completion, Hearst will assume full ownership of the media company, which will become a wholly owned business within Hearst's entertainment group. The portfolio includes cable networks such as A&E, History, Lifetime, FYI, and LMN, along with content studios and streaming offerings. The sale concludes a process that began in July 2025, when the two companies retained Wells Fargo to explore a potential sale.

Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz thanked Disney for decades of partnership and expressed support for the existing leadership team under AE Global Media President and Chairman Paul Buccieri, who will continue to lead the company. In a statement, Buccieri highlighted the strength of the company's brands, partnerships, and owned content library as advantages in a fragmented media landscape. He extended thanks to both Hearst and Disney for their support over...