Shaftesbury Films, Toronto, has acquired Smokebomb Entertainment, an award-winning developer of original multiplatform digital content.

Heading up Shaftesbury's newly created Digital Media division are executive producers Daniel Dales and Jarrett Sherman. 

"Both Shaftesbury and Smokebomb want to create unique and powerful work for online, mobile and all digital outlets, and build on our successful recent collaborations, such as the Gemini award-winning Life with Derek podcasts and website enhancements," said Shane Kinnear, VP of marketing, sales and digital media, Shaftesbury Films.

The two companies' next major project is the online companion project for the upcoming drama series The Listener (CTV/ NBC/ Fox International), which will feature a pre-launch audio and visual marketing campaign, an immersive web experience and cross-platform integration. The site, http://www.thelistenertv.com/, will be created in partnership with CTV and funded in part by the Bell New Media Fund. 

Smokebomb Entertainment's name remains intact and the company will move into Shaftesbury HQ mid-summer. The company plans to develop at least two original online series for production in the first year.