NEW YORK—Hearst has announced a deal with subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company to acquire Disney’s 50% interest in A+E Global Media for approximately $1.2 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close in September, at which point A+E Global Media will become a wholly owned Hearst business within its Entertainment group. A+E Global Media, launched as A&E (the Arts & Entertainment Network) in 1984, today reaches more than 414 million households across 200 territories in 40 languages. “We look forward to supporting Paul Buccieri and A+E Global Media’s leadership team as they continue to make must-see programs and innovate around the great History, Lifetime and A&E brands.” Paul Buccieri, president and chairman of A+E Global Media will continue to run A+E.