Immersive mystery from CBC and Shaftesbury/Smokebomb turns fans into real-world detectives with a unique digital experience that combines real-world live events in Canada and the UK
CBC and Smokebomb Entertainment, Shaftesbury’s award-winning digital studio, unveil a brand new online mystery, Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device, at cbc.ca/murdochmysteries on April 8, 2015. The unprecedented interactive experience turns MURDOCH MYSTERIES fans into detectives, through an engaging six-week mystery including real-world events in Canada and the UK that bring the storyline to life in full turn-of-the-century detail.
Each week, a new chapter of Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device will be revealed online,incorporating a new regional event tied to the storyline beginning with Toronto, ON on April 11, Vancouver, BC on April 18, Edmonton, AB on April 25, Montreal, QC on May 2, and London, UK on May 9, culminating in an epic finale in Toronto, ON on May 16. Additional clues to help solve the interactive mystery will be revealed at each event, allowing fan detectives to work together to solve the case. Please note, participation in the live events is not required as fans can access all clues online in order to participate in each phase. Further details on each regional event will be released at a later date.
“For eight seasons, fans have been watching Murdoch Mysteries, and now they finally have a chance to become part of the story world,” said Jay Bennett, vice president, digital and creative director, Shaftesbury/Smokebomb. “Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device gives them a unique opportunity to be part of the action alongside our characters through a truly immersive, interactive experience.”
In Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device, super spy Terrence Meyers (Peter Keleghan) returns for another matter of national security, involving high stakes and anti-Monarchist sentiments. With Detective Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) out of town arranging security for a royal visit, Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) must step in to deal with Meyers’ dangerous machinations. Crabtree discovers a threat that could disrupt the balance of power in the world, and enlists the help of fans to foil the devious plot.
One of Canada’s most successful and longest-running dramas, Murdoch Mysteries has become a staple for CBC and broadcasters around the world with its winning formula that brings together compelling mysteries, unique slices of turn-of-the-century history and ingenious inventions. Licensed to broadcasters in 110 countries and territories including the U.S., UK, France, Finland and China, the series continues to thrive with eight seasons and 114 episodes under its belt, boasting an average audience of 1.3 million* each week in Canada in Season 8. The series recently completed its Season 8 run on CBC on March 30, and will return to CBC for Season 9 in Fall 2015.
With millions of fans, Murdoch Mysteries boasts one of the most engaged fan communities in Canadian television, including 64,000 likes on Facebook and more than 60,000 followers for the series and its cast on Twitter. Fan events in Ontario attract thousands each summer from across Canada, the U.S., UK, France and Australia.
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, Murdoch Mysteries is a one-hour drama series that explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders. Murdoch’s colleagues include the love of his life, coroner and psychiatrist Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy, Durham County), a staunch ally who shares the detective’s fascination for science; Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Still Standing), Murdoch’s eager but sometimes naïve right-hand man; Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street), Murdoch’s skeptical yet reluctantly supportive boss; and coroner Dr. Emily Grace (Georgina Reilly; The L.A. Complex), Dr. Ogden’s protégé.
Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device is produced by Jay Bennett, Ted Biggs, Fergus Heywood and Mike Evans, directed by Laurie Lynd and written by Michelle Ricci. The project is funded with the participation of the Canada Media Fund’s Convergent Stream.
Murdoch Mysteries is developed and produced by producer and distributor Shaftesbury, in association with CBC, ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment and UKTV, and with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the COGECO Program Development Fund. Shaftesbury Sales Company and ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment hold worldwide distribution rights for the series.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.
A space for us all is CBC/Radio-Canada’s new strategy to modernize the public broadcaster and ensure that it continues to fulfill its mandate for Canadians and for future generations. Through to 2020, it will increase its investment in prime time television programming, and continue to create radio programs of the highest quality, while promoting the development of digital and mobile platforms and content.
For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC’s publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.
About Shaftesbury/Smokebomb
With offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and distributor of original content for television and digital platforms. Sold in 120 countries worldwide, Shaftesbury’s slate includes the upcoming drama series Houdini & Doyle for Sony Pictures Television, Shaw Media, ITV and Fox, a Canada-UK co-production with Big Talk; nine seasons of Murdoch Mysteries for CBC, UKTV and ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment; and preschool series The Moblees for Kids’ CBC. Shaftesbury’s digital studio, Smokebomb Entertainment, creates convergent experiences for television including the International Emmy-nominated Murdoch Mysteries: The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs; and original projects including the hit YouTube series Carmilla, funded by the U by Kotex® brand; and fashion-focused multiplatform series MsLabelled for Shaw Media and Schick® Quattro for Women®. In partnership with millennial agency Youth Culture, Shaftesbury/Smokebomb recently launched shift2, an innovative brand agency that targets Generation C on YouTube. Visit us online at http://shaftesbury.ca http://smokebomb.ca and http://shift2.ca.
*Average audience for the season to date is based on only original episodes that aired.
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For more information:
Emily Claire Afan
Shaftesbury/Smokebomb,
eclaire@shaftesbury.ca
416-363-1411 x177 or 905-783-5753
Cathleen Saville
publicist, CBC
cathleen.saville@cbc.ca
416-205-7976
