Al-Jazeera in talks to buy Current TV

(AP) Arab television network Al-Jazeera is in talks to buy Current TV, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The acquisition, if consummated, could give Al-Jazeera access to a broader range of U.S. television viewers. Although its programming is available in some large metropolitan areas, the network's executives have long been frustrated in their efforts to secure carriage deals with TV distributors.

Current TV, founded in 2005 by former vice president Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, is available in 60 million U.S. homes.

News of the deal was earlier reported by The New York Times.