Josh D'Amaro

Disney sells its A+E cable stake to Hearst

Closed his first major divestiture as CEO

Disney is walking away from the cable channels that ran A&E, History and Lifetime. On August 5, it agreed to sell its 50% share of A+E Global Media to Hearst, its partner of four decades, for about $1.2 billion in cash.

Updated Aug 6

Disney rebuilds ESPN around streaming and NFL equity partnership

Money Moves

Took over from Bob Iger on March 18, 2026; presented first earnings as CEO May 6, 2026

For 28 years ESPN was Disney's cable cash machine — a pay-TV channel that millions paid for whether they watched it or not. Disney's May 6 earnings report described something different: a standalone $29.99-a-month streaming service, an asset valued at $30 billion, and a sports network in which the National Football League now owns 10%.

Updated May 31

OpenAI ends Sora consumer app in pivot to enterprise

Money Moves

CEO since March 18, 2026; received Sam Altman's personal call about the Sora shutdown

OpenAI previewed Sora as a glimpse of cinema's AI future in February 2024. Twenty-six months later, on April 26, 2026, the company switched off the Sora consumer app for good.