Universal Channel picks up Rake

Universal Channel in the UK has acquired the US adaptation of Australian legal comedy-drama Rake from Sony Pictures Television (SPT).

The series, produced by Fedora Entertainment and SPT, is part of the pay TV broadcaster’s strategy to buy more first-run US shows at the LA Screenings.

Rake, which launches on Fox this year, stars Hollywood actor Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets) as a brilliant but self-destructive criminal defence lawyer.

It is the latest high-profile pick-up by Universal, which last month acquired mystery-adventure series Sleepy Hollow and Graceland from Twentieth Century Fox Distribution.

The original series of Rake was produced by Aussie indie Essential Media and Entertainment for pubcaster ABC.