BSkyB nabs Spielberg's 'Smash'

LONDON -- U.K. paybox BSkyB has nabbed exclusive local TV rights to Steven Spielberg's 15-part skein "Smash," which goes behind the scenes of an imagined Broadway musical. The show will air on Sky Atlantic, joining such fare as "Boardwalk Empire" and "Mad Men," early next year. The Universal Television show, exec produced by Spielberg, is due to bow in the U.S. on NBC in February. BSkyB acquired "Smash" from NBCUniversal International Television Distribution. Cast includes Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport, Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Brian D'Arcy James. "Smash" focuses on the production of a Broadway musical based on the life story of Marilyn Monroe and the backstage rivalries that ensue between cast and crew. Move comes as the paybox announced it is beefing up the amount of original U.K. commissions on Sky Atlantic, which is aimed at an upscale aud. These include four-part police drama "Falcon," based on Robert Wilson's Javier Falcon novels, and "Morgan Spurlock's New Britannia," in which the humorist attempts to skewer the eccentricities of Brit culture. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com