A&E Networks (stylized as A+E Networks) is an entertainment holding company that operates various channels around the world. Outside of the European Economic Area, the company is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the multimedia business company Hearst Communications, both owning 50% each, while in the European Economic Area, it has been solely owned by Hearst since 2018 due to European regulation laws.
The company operates several brands of channels in the television industry, including A&E, History (counterparts include History en Español and Military History), Crime + Investigation, Lifetime, FYI (formerly known as Biography), and Vice (also known as Vice TV; formerly known as Viceland).
Association with Disney[]
On November 6, 2018, it had been announced that as part of Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Disney agreed to sell its 50% stake of the company to Hearst in the European Economic Area. Despite this, Disney continues to co-own the company elsewhere internationally, including the company's country of origin for operations in the United States.
In 2019, A&E Studios, a division of the company, co-produced the Hulu Original drama series Reprisal for the service, and the following year in 2020, co-produced Big Sky with 20th Television for ABC.
Some of their most popular properties include Duck Dynasty, Storage Wars, Live PD, and Hoarders for A&E, as well as Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Forged in Fire, The Curse of Oak Island, Ancient Aliens, and Modern Marvels for History, and Dance Moms and Married at First Sight for Lifetime.
Trivia[]
- Prior to 2012, NBC Universal also co-owned the company, however they sold their 15.8% stake that same year, which resulted in Disney and Hearst's ownership becoming evenly split up (50% each respectively).
- For home video releases, Buena Vista Home Entertainment has never distributed any media from the A&E library. The company instead self-licensed their releases, and currently releases products through Lionsgate Home Entertainment, with the contract being announced in August 2012.[1]
- Additionally, Discovery+ and Peacock shared the streaming rights to a majority of A&E's content throughout 2021, however some shows were also streaming on Hulu in the United States.
- This was the case until January 2023, when Disney finally began streaming several A&E programs on Disney+.
- In Canada and Latin America, content from A&E was already streaming on Disney+ since 2021 through Star.
- Duck Dynasty was featured in episode 21 of Doofenshmirtz's Daily Dirt.
- Oddly enough, the promotional image for the Robertsons that was shown on Doof's monitor displayed copyright for Disney Enterprises rather than A&E Networks.
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See also[]
- ESPN - Another company jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%)