Shaftesbury Films has acquired Toronto web shop Smokebomb Entertainment, putting principals Daniel Dales and Jarrett Sherman atop a newly formed digital media division that will see Shaftesbury turn out more original digital content.

Dales and Sherman, billed as ‘the president and the other president’ at Smokebomb, have ‘demonstrated remarkable talent and insight for developing stories and entertainment for new and emerging outlets,’ said Shaftesbury boss Christina Jennings in a statement.

Shaftesbury and Smokebomb recently collaborated on podcasts for the website of the Family Channel series Life with Derek. The company will continue to use the Smokebomb name but will move into Shaftesbury’s headquarters in Toronto by mid-summer. The company aims to create a minimum of two original online series for production in the first year.

From KidScreen Daily