DirecTV takes 'Slap' in U.S.

LONDON -- Provocative Oz drama "The Slap," based on the international best selling novel, is to bow in the U.S. and Canada. DCD Rights has sold the eight-part series to paybox DirecTV. Show will air on the Audience Network channel. In Canada, "The Slap" will bow on Ontario-based pubcaster TVO. The drama is derived from Christos Tsiolkas' novel and was launched in Oz via ABC1 last month. Show is gaining plaudits and ratings in the U.K., where it is shown on upscale web BBC4. In Blighty, "The Slap" has won an average audience of 830,500 (4% share), which is three times the slot average for the BBC web. "The Slap" follows the fall-out from a dispute at a family barbecue when a man hits a child who is not his son. Produced by Matchbox Pictures for ABC Television, the skein features British thesp Sophie Okonedo. Cast also includes Melissa George, Essie Davis and Jonathan LaPaglia. "The Slap" made its international debut at last month's Mipcom sales mart in Cannes. Show has previously been sold to Spain, Portugal, the Far East, Eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey. Matchbox is majority owned by NBCU. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com