BUSINESS

Cable Giants Shake Up the TV World: What's Next for A&E, Lifetime, and History?

New York, USATue Jul 08 2025

Big changes are happening in the world of cable TV.

Disney and Hearst Sell Major Channels

  • Disney and Hearst have put A&E, Lifetime, and History up for sale.
  • These channels are well-known and have been around for a long time.
  • The sale includes not just the channels but also their studios, streaming services, and other digital assets.

Why Are They Selling?

  • Cable TV is changing.
  • More people are cutting the cord and switching to streaming.
  • Companies are slimming down to focus on what works best.

Disney's Strategy

  • Disney has been using its other TV channels to feed content to Disney+ and Hulu.
  • A&E, Lifetime, and History were never part of that plan.

Efforts to Keep Up

  • A&E, Lifetime, and History have tried to keep up with the changes.
  • They've been making more original shows and using old content in new ways.
  • But the future of cable TV is uncertain.

Big Changes Ahead

  • The sale could be a big deal.
  • Other companies might be interested in buying these channels.
  • NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery are also selling off some of their channels.
  • Big changes are coming to the TV world.

questions

    Will A+E Network's FAST channels become so fast that they’ll show the future before it happens?
    What strategies will the new owners of A+E Global Media implement to maintain or grow the audience for channels like A&E Network, History, and Lifetime?
    How will the divestment of A+E Global Media affect the creative freedom of producers and content creators working under its umbrella?

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