 Sassa joined Hearst in 2008, where he was president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, the operating group responsible for Hearst's interests in cable television networks, including ESPN, Lifetime, A&E and History; television production and distribution; newspaper syndication; and merchandise licensing.In February 2013 Hearst Ventures became part of the Entertainment & syndication group.He left Hearst after executives became aware of an extortion plot involving a stripper with whom he was sexting.