Hearst has agreed to buy Disney's 50% stake in A+E Global Media for $1.2 billion in cash, taking full ownership of the company behind Lifetime, History Channel and A&E Network. The move ends a 50-50 partnership that had lasted more than a decade and marks a significant expansion of Hearst's presence in national media, adding to its existing newspaper, magazine and local television holdings. It comes as traditional pay-TV businesses face mounting pressure from cord-cutting and the shift to streaming, with A+E having sought to diversify its revenue base under president and chairman Paul Buccieri, who is staying on after the deal closes.

The transaction, which is expected to close in September, is separate from Hearst's roughly 18% stake in ESPN, which remains unaffected. Disney and Hearst put A+E Global Media up for sale in July 2025, with Starz reportedly among the outside parties that considered a bid before Hearst emerged as buyer. The deal covers a range of assets including linear channels such as Lifetime Movie Network, FYI and Vice TV, production units including A+E Studios and A&E IndieFilms, and streaming services such as History Vault and Lifetime Movie Club. Hearst chief executive Steven R. Swartz thanked Disney for the "decades of successful partnership" and said the company would continue backing Buccieri's leadership team.