Hearst Communications, Inc. (often referred to simply as Hearst) is an American multinational media and business information conglomerate based in Midtown Manhattan, NY. Hearst is a media company that owns newspapers, magazines, TV channels and stations. Some examples are Esquire and Cosmopolitan. It has 50% of the A&E Networks cable network group and 20% of the sports cable network group ESPN, with The Walt Disney Company. The conglomerate also owns several business-information companies, including Fitch Ratings and First Databank. The company was founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, and the Hearst family remains involved in its ownership and management.