A+E Global Media 2026 Upfront Features Stars and Creators

A year ago, A+E Networks rebranded itself to A+E Global Media, as part of a strategic shift that deemphasized its linear TV channels and leaned into its studio and content businesses.

The company, which owns brands like History, A&E and Lifetime, as well as a production studio, a number of FAST streaming channels and stakes in companies like Range Media Partners, is effectively kicking off the 2026 upfront conversation Wednesday with a virtual presentation to Madison Ave.

“Last year, we introduced A+E Global Media to reflect the full depth and breadth of who we are: a multi-faceted global media and entertainment company, reflected in the strength and scale of our content, talent and global platforms reach,” says Buccieri. “Today, we are continuing to evolve on that foundation — delivering distinctive programming across the most popular genres and on every screen. World-class talent choose our trusted brands as the home to tell their stories. That passion, mixed with purpose, is why audiences return to us again and again.”

The company unveiled a slate of programming Wednesday that leans into its star talent and producers, which includes boldface names like Kevin Bacon, Jim Belushi, Dolph Lundgren, Queen Latifah, Ted Danson, Taraji P. Henson and Taye Diggs. And while the programming may debut on its linear pay-TV channels, the company now sells it across streaming, digital and social platforms as well.

“We do business in the way that clients want to do business,” says Toby Byrne, president of A+E Media Solutions, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “We still do plenty of deals based on traditional audiences, and we’re doing more and more with innovative solutions guaranteeing on business outcomes or strategic audiences. I think at the end of the day, the company’s really evolved quite a bit over the last handful of years. You could probably draw a line to when Paul Buccieri took over.”

In addition to the slate, A+E introduced a new brand studio, called Storyground, which will work with advertisers to create custom content that can live across its ecosystem of platforms; and it is launching a creator partnerships program, leaning into social creators in genres relevant to its programming. Tiff Baira, who created a social dating show, is working with Lifetime in the first such partnership.

“We’re starting with Lifetime and History. I think there’s a lot of commonality in terms of how we operate and what’s important to creators,” says Juliana Stock, president of marketing and digital for A+E Global Media. “Authenticity is incredibly important to them and it’s incredibly important to us. The program that we are launching is going to span marketing, digital sales, with creators leading broader brand storytelling across their social platforms, in addition to ours. And I think their audiences are important prospects. So that is absolutely one of the reasons–also, they’re incredibly creative, and we enjoy working with creative people.”

Byrne says that the company has been leaning in to its total audience and providing high-touch service to stand out in a market that is becoming increasingly consolidated. The bet is that as marketers decide where and how they want to spend their money, the personal element can win business.

“When we’re talking to our partners, we really pride ourselves on the kind of the premium service that we provide them,” Byrne says. “I think we are more nimble because we’re not as large as some media companies. We operate at a certain speed, and through it all, we just never lose sight of the value we have to provide to be competitive. So I think that’s what comes through — our willingness to be innovative, with how we guarantee business, and our passion around developing creative partnerships.”

Indeed, A+E, like other media companies in the space, guarantees outcomes alongside more traditional measurement metrics, in a sign of what marketers now expect from the places they spend their budgets. And despite its linear TV heritage, it now sells its audiences across every platform.

“We are selling through the value of the total audience that we reach for an advertiser,” Byrne says. “Our cross-platform reach is more impactful than any one element, our off-linear audience is more than half of our total audience now. So taking advantage of the totality of our audience and all of our distribution endpoints, digital and linear, is important so that we can provide the most impact for our advertisers.”

Of course, A+E kicks off the upfront market at a complicated time for the media company. Last summer, its co-owners, Disney and Hearst, began exploring options for the media company. While it isn’t clear what discussions have come from that process, the ongoing M&A cross the industry suggests that changes could come sooner rather than later.