B&T, OverDrive Ink Digital Distribution Deal
-- Publishers Weekly, 5/26/2009 9:10:00 AM
Baker & Taylor is teaming up with digital media distributor OverDrive in a longterm technology licensing agreement to distribute downloadable e-books, audiobooks, music, video and related content to Baker & Taylor customers. In the coming months, OverDrive will provide the infrastructure for B&T to offer its library and trade customers around the world a Digital Media Library with content that can be downloaded and played on a variety of devices.Bob Nelson, executive v-p for global business development and head of the recently formed Digital Media Services Group, said the deal would allow B&T to do a better job of monetizing content, “in multiple formats to multiple devices throughout its vast customer base worldwide. Adding digital media to our current offerings allows our retailers and library customers to buy additional products and services in a more efficient process from one trusted source.” OverDrive CEO Steven Potash said the deal will, “give customers a bundled solution–digital content in multiple formats along with physical media,” and the “ability to securely manage, protect and fulfill orders.”
The deal with OverDrive is the third partnership B&T has signed in the digital space in recent months, and follows agreements with ebrary and LibreDigital.
