Disney to sell its 50% stake in A+E Global Media to Hearst in a deal described as exceeding $1 billion

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is moving to simplify its media portfolio by selling its 50% stake in A+E Global Media to Hearst, according to a report from Deadline. The transaction, described as an all-cash deal believed to be worth more than $1 billion, would transfer Disney’s partnership interest in the joint owner of A&E, History, and Lifetime channels to its co-owner.

A+E Global Media is a joint venture structure designed around shared programming and distribution for major cable networks. Disney and Hearst co-own the company, and the proposed sale would remove Disney from that linear media management role. For Disney, the change fits a broader corporate focus on shifting resources toward streaming and other areas of growth, while monetizing assets tied to traditional multichannel television.

The reported terms call for Disney to sell the full 50% stake, implying that the transaction is intended to be a clean exit rather than a partial reduction. The Deadline report also characterized the deal as all-cash, a detail that, if confirmed in later filings or announcements, would matter for how Disney accounts for proceeds and how quickly it can redeploy capital.

As of this writing, the report does not provide deal timing details in the materials available here, nor does it outline the regulatory pathway or conditions that could affect closing. Disney also has not, in the information used for this story, released a separate public statement on the transaction or provided a filing with transaction documentation.

In a statement-like sense, the core business implication is that Disney is shedding a linear asset tied to cable networks that remain commercially significant but face ongoing industry pressure from cord-cutting and shifting ad budgets. A+E’s portfolio includes brands with deep audience recognition, and changes in ownership stakes can influence budgeting priorities, executive oversight, and long-term strategy for programming and syndication rights.

For Hearst, buying Disney’s stake would increase control of the programming and operations of A+E Global Media. That matters because joint ventures typically involve shared decision-making, and a full stake can streamline strategy and potentially reduce friction around investment priorities, technology transitions, and affiliate carriage negotiations.

What is not disclosed in the report information available here is the final purchase price, any contingent consideration, and whether Disney will retain any related rights through licensing arrangements. The source also does not detail how the transaction is expected to affect Disney’s earnings or balance sheet, including whether any portion of proceeds will be used for debt reduction, buybacks, or reinvestment.