FTC OK With Disney Purchase of NBCU's A+E Stake

Deal gives Disney, Hearst equal share of cable programmer

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/30/2012 10:12:51 AM

The government Monday signaled it had no antitrust issues with Disney's $3 billion purchase of NBCU's 15% stake in A+E.

That came in an early termination notice issued by the Federal Trade Commission, which was vetting the deal. That notice means that the FTC has terminated its Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust review of the deal and plans no action to block or modify the deal.

The deal, which was announced earlier this month and is expected to close in the second half of the year, gives Disney and Hearst a 50% share each in the cable company and its networks.