The Perseus Books Group Selects North Plains' TeleScope™ Platform For Its Digital Publishing Needs

Business Wire, Oct 16, 2008

Perseus Leverages Advanced Digital Asset Management Tools to Create One-Stop-Shop for Independent Publishers

TORONTO -- North Plains Systems, Inc., the leading provider of digital asset management (DAM) and video asset management (VAM) software solutions, announced that The Perseus Books Group, the leading provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent publishers, has selected North Plains' TeleScope[TM] digital asset management solution as the technology backbone for its new digital publishing offering.

The Perseus Books Group is utilizing TeleScope's asset management capabilities in the company's new 'Constellation' digital service. The service provides a "one-stop-shop" process for independent publishers to take advantage of opportunities in the digital realm, from utilizing digital print technologies to produce physical books to marketing their content online to selling and distributing their content as ebooks. TeleScope's highly scalable solution offers an unparalleled ability to optimize workflows through centralized access and distribution of rich media content across distributed networks. These features are helping Perseus provide a streamlined process for Constellation customers to upload and manage digital book assets that can be repurposed to generate new revenue opportunities.

"North Plains is the de facto digital asset management solutions provider to the publishing industry," said Melissa Serdinsky, Vice President of Production, the Perseus Books Group. "After months of rigorous product evaluations, North Plains' TeleScope solution came out head-and-shoulders above its closest rivals. Its clear to us that partnering with North Plains gives us the competitive advantage we need and gives our publishing clientele the tools they have been asking for."

"The response to Constellation from our clients has been impressive," said Joe Mangan, COO, The Perseus Books Group. "Since we announced Constellation in early September, more than 100 clients have requested details on how to sign up. We expect to see that number grow over the next few months."

The partnership reflects North Plains' continued market leadership position and ongoing commitment to developing innovative solutions for the publishing industry. With an ever-increasing amount of digital content, publishers are looking to find and exploit emerging opportunities to leverage their content to generate new revenue. North Plains Systems has installed its award-winning digital asset management systems in more than a dozen major publishing companies worldwide, including Hachette Filipacchi Media, HarperCollins Publishers, Harcourt, Thomson, Quebecor World Premedia, Scholastic, Editis, Hachette Book Group, and now The Perseus Books Group.

"We are thrilled The Perseus Books Group has chosen our digital asset management technology to drive this important venture for independent publishers," said Hassan Kotob, President and CEO, North Plains Systems. "The digital publishing space is an incredibly competitive and rapidly evolving industry. This joint initiative levels the playing field and gives small and medium-sized organizations tools that were once reserved for larger publishing companies."

Meet North Plains in person and get a live TeleScope demonstration at the Henry Stewart DAM Symposium in Los Angeles from November 10-11, 2008.

North Plains' TeleScope[TM] Digital Asset Management (DAM) Platforms

TeleScope[TM] is an award-winning digital asset management platform that provides foundational support for North Plains' entire suite of products. This platform enables the secure access, management and distribution of all digital and rich media content across an entire organization. With its distributed and modular architecture, TeleScope is designed to meet the diverse range of rich media needs from small and mid-size businesses and design studios, to the complex business challenges of global enterprises.

The TeleScope product portfolio consists of four distinctly different solutions, including its Enterprise, Professional, Studio and OnDemand systems. Regardless of whether you're a new creative "shop" just starting out, growing so quickly that your asset inventory is getting out of control, or a globally distributed organization with millions of assets to manage, North Plains has a digital asset management solution to meet your business challenges.

About the Perseus Books Group

The Perseus Books Group is an independent company committed to enabling independent publishers to reach their potential whether those publishers are Perseus-owned, joint ventures or owned by third parties. Member publishing programs include Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Da Capo Press, Da Capo Lifelong Books, Running Press, Seal Press, Vanguard Press and Westview Press, as well as partnerships with PublicAffairs and with Nation Books. Through Consortium, Perseus Distribution and Publishers Group West, the Perseus Books Group is the leading provider of sales, marketing, distribution, and digital services to independent publishers. For more information, visit our websites at www.perseusbooks.com, www.perseusdigital.com/constellation.>