DLA Piper advised Al Jazeera Media Network, a leading media company consisting of more than 20 channels encompassing news, documentary and sports channels, in its acquisition of Current TV, the US-based cable network.

There will be a transition from Current TV’s existing programming until Al Jazeera’s new US-based channel begins to air in 2013 from New York City on Current TV’s distribution network. In addition to the existing Al Jazeera news bureaus in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, Al Jazeera plans to open additional bureaus in key locations across the US.

Frank Ryan, deputy chair of the Global Sports, Media and Entertainment Group, and partner Eric Geppert led the DLA Piper team, which also included partner Michael Reed and associates Richard Flaggert, Sean Harrigan and Elena Keil.

“We are very pleased to represent Al Jazeera in this important deal, which is illustrative of the capabilities of our global platform and growing representation of the world’s major media companies and operations,” said Peter White, co-chair of DLA Piper’s Global Sports, Media and Entertainment Group.

This is the latest major media deal handled by DLA Piper, which also recently represented Discovery Communications in its US$1.7 billion agreement to purchase SBS Nordic from ProSiebenSat.1, and in connection with Discovery’s acquisition of a 20 percent stake in Eurosport. Earlier in 2012, the firm represented ESPN, Inc. in connection with a global bid process for the expansion of the Global X GAMES action/sports franchise.