While 60 million households is respectable distribution for a second-tier cable network, Current has long suffered from poor channel placement, low visibility and a diffuse brand identity.

FORBES: Current TV Sold To Al Jazeera; $500 Million Deal For Al Gore and Co. [UPDATED]

General Electric ( GE - news - people )'s cable channels, Spanish-language Telemundo network and NBC's TV distribution units in addition NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

FORBES: Television

But CBS also credited higher distribution fees for CBS stations as well as cable networks such as Showtime and CBS Sports Network.

WSJ: Media companies benefit from higher network fees