Disney is selling its 50% stake in A+E Global Media to joint venture partner Hearst Communications in an all-cash deal worth over $1 billion, according to reports. The transaction is expected to be announced at Disney's earnings call next week. A+E Global Media owns cable networks A&E, History, Lifetime, and FYI, as well as A+E Studios. Disney and Hearst launched a sale process last year through Wells Fargo. Whilst profitable and debt-free, A+E Global has faced declining linear viewership like other cable networks. The company has adapted through early adoption of FAST channels and owns much of its content library. A+E Global Media President and Chairman Paul Buccieri will continue leading the company. This marks Disney's first major move to reduce its traditional television footprint.

Greene County Sheriff's Office will film with 'On Patrol: Live' Springfield News-Leader Feb. 4, 2026 Updated Feb. 5, 2026, 10:36 a.m. CT This story was updated to include details of the signed contract. Greene County Sheriff's Office deputies are coming back to television and will be featured on "On Patrol: Live." Greene County Commission approved a yearlong contract with "On Patrol: Live" that will document the work of GCSO deputies on live television. According to the show's website, the show is filmed in real time and airs live with a slight time delay that can range from a few minutes to up to half an hour. Law enforcement departments featured on the show are not compensated directly but do receive a licensing fee for the use of their name and logo on the show. "On Patrol: Live" is a reality TV series that airs Friday and Saturday nights on cable and satellite channel Reelz. According to the show's website, law enforcement departments featured on the show do not have any editorial control over the content, though they do have the right to review and request editing of footage that could endanger citizens. The agreement, provided to the News-Leader, notes that no filming would take place at the Greene County Jail. The contract stipulates that the GCSO will have 48 hours to review and comment on any pre-recorded segments for the purpose of identifying any safety or security risks to the office. For footage broadcast live, a GCSO representative will have digital access to a live feed to identify any safety concerns, though the agreement notes the producer makes the final decision on the content of the series. GCSO is no stranger to being in front of the camera. The office previously participated in COPS TV show, which airs footage long after it was recorded, and was heavily featured in the A&E reality show "Live PD" from 2017-2019. While "Live PD" was canceled in 2020, "On Patrol: Live" was seen as a revival of one of A&E's highest rated shows. However, A&E filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Reelz alleging the new show uses a nearly identical format and hosts, resulting in a settlement outside of court, according to reporting by Reuters. Prior to the commissioners' unanimous approval of the contact, Greene County Sheriff's Capt. Jason Johnson said the show was already filming in adjacent Christian County. He said beyond providing transparency and public education about what deputies face in the field, the show will be an opportunity to provide exposure to the GCSO for recruitment purposes. Johnson shared that the sheriff's office currently has nine vacancies in the patrol division and 27 vacancies in detention operations. Last year, only three qualified external candidates applied for patrol vacancies, he said. Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon emphasized the need for creative recruitment strategies, like the live TV exposure, as the county struggles to fill positions across different departments and is unable to keep up with competitive salaries. In its 2026 budget, the county did include a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all employee pay. Dixon said that was still not adequate to make Greene County departments competitive with similar organizations. While the contract spans a year, Johnson said the county can decide to cancel it at any time with 30 days notice. According to the agreement provided to the News-Leader, after the initial year-long term expires it would automatically renew for another year, unless either party notifies their intent to terminate the contract. Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at [email protected].