BSkyB nabs Spielberg's 'Smash'

LONDON -- U.K. paybox BSkyB has nabbed exclusive local TV privileges to Steven Spielberg's 15-part skein "Smash," which matches behind the curtain of the imagined Broadway musical. The show will air on Sky Atlantic, joining such fare as "Boardwalk Empire" and "Mad Males," early the coming year. The Universal Tv program, professional created by Spielberg, is because of bow within the U.S. on NBC in Feb. BSkyB acquired "Smash" from NBCUniversal Worldwide Television Distribution. Cast includes Debra Playing, Anjelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport, Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and John D'Arcy James. "Smash" concentrates on producing a Broadway musical in line with the existence story of Marilyn Monroe and also the backstage rivalries that ensue between cast and crew. Move may come as the paybox introduced it's beefing up the quantity of original U.K. commissions on Sky Atlantic, that is targeted in an trendy aud. Included in this are four-part police drama "Falcon," according to Robert Wilson's Javier Falcon books, and "Morgan Spurlock's New Britannia," where the humorist tries to skewer the eccentricities of Brit culture. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com