Disney set to sell 50% stake in A+E Media to Hearst in an all-cash, billion-dollar deal

The Walt Disney Company is preparing to exit its 50% stake in A+E Global Media through a deal with Hearst, a move that would reshuffle the ownership structure of one of television’s long-running distribution and cable brands, according to a report by TheWrap.

The proposed transaction is described as all-cash and valued at roughly a billion dollars, with the buyer identified as Hearst. The report adds that Disney is expected to formally announce the sale during its earnings call next week.

A+E Global Media is the operating vehicle behind A+E Networks, a group associated with programming and channels carried across pay-TV and digital platforms. The significance for Disney is likely strategic as well as financial: partnerships in cable and programming businesses can require capital and management attention, while stake sales can free up cash to be redeployed elsewhere in a company still reshaping its media mix across streaming, sports, and traditional television.

For Hearst, buying a larger ownership interest in A+E Global Media would deepen its control over a business that helps produce and distribute content across multiple audiences. Hearst’s publishing and media portfolio spans newspapers, magazine brands, television production, and owned media properties, and it has previously participated in programming and distribution ventures across the industry.

The report does not provide deal mechanics such as closing timing, regulatory approvals, or whether Disney would retain any remaining stake or governance rights after the transaction. It also does not specify whether the sale is tied to any broader agreements between the parties, such as carriage arrangements, content production commitments, or transition services.

Disney also has not disclosed in the report what portion of the consideration would be used for specific priorities, such as debt reduction, share repurchases, or investment in streaming and other operations. Without access to an official earnings-call statement or filing details, key questions remain unanswered about the transaction’s total valuation, payment schedule, and any conditions precedent.

From a sector perspective, large media companies have continued to review joint ventures and minority stakes as they manage shifting viewing habits and changing advertising and subscription economics. Cable networks and their distribution arms remain important, but ownership and partnership structures are increasingly being adjusted to match each company’s risk tolerance and capital allocation goals.

Investors and industry observers will likely focus on what Disney characterizes as the rationale for the sale, the expected impact on cash flow and leverage, and whether Disney provides guidance on how the transaction affects its broader business strategy. The earnings call is the next critical milestone, since it is where Disney is expected to deliver more complete terms and financial context.