Hearst has agreed to buy out Disney’s 50% stake in A+E Global Media for roughly $1.2 billion in cash, a report by Deadline said. The deal, expected to close in September, will end the two companies’ long-standing 50-50 joint venture and make A+E Global Media a wholly owned part of Hearst’s Entertainment group.
A+E Global Media is the parent company behind A&E, History, Lifetime, and FYI, and also runs production arm A+E Studios, with operations spanning more than 200 territories.
Paul Buccieri will stay on as president and chairman of the company, continuing to report to Hearst president and CEO Steven R. Swartz.
Buccieri pointed to the strength of A+E’s brands, its partnerships, and its extensive owned content library as key advantages in an increasingly fragmented media landscape, adding that the company is positioned to pursue future opportunities as it expands its storytelling across global platforms. He also thanked both Hearst and Disney, along with past and present board members, for their support over the years.
Swartz thanked Disney for decades of partnership and said Hearst looks forward to backing Buccieri and the A+E leadership team as they continue producing popular programming and building out the History, Lifetime, and A&E brands.
The acquisition follows a strategic review that Disney and Hearst launched in July 2025 to evaluate options for A+E Global Media’s future ownership structure, ultimately resulting in Hearst consolidating full control of the media group.
