Al Jazeera hunting for NYC HQ

Al Jazeera executives have been sniffing around New York real estate in search of a home for the forthcoming Al Jazeera America network.

The Wall Street Journal reports the network has toured the former New York Times building at 229 W. 43rd Street, though sources say the building’s columns would make it difficult for the type of facility Al Jazeera is envisioning.

Meanwhile, the network has already inked a deal to rent space at the Manhattan Center and another nearby facility to serve as temporary studio space for the 150 people it plans to to hire before the launch.

It will be interesting to see what the temporary studio looks like and where the network ultimately decides to call home.