PARIS—Dalet has unveiled the Dalet StoreFront, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) portal that allows the company’s customers to create a marketplace for their B2B clients, partners and affiliates, the company said today.

With the Dalet StoreFront, multiple users can access content stored on a Dalet MAM using advanced search tools. Search results are filtered to show only relevant material to a qualified client.

At the heart of the Dalet StoreFront is the Dalet MAM orchestration engine, which enables content preparation and delivery. The new storefront makes the shopping experience easy and maximizes exposure to inventory, boosts the likelihood content will be repurposed and enhances retail opportunities, said Dalet.

Nearly all Dalet customers, ranging from news networks that share assets across affiliates to sports leagues servicing licensees will benefit from the Dalet StoreFront, the company said.

“As audiences grow at a global scale, so does the need for more content. Maximizing exposure and facilitating discoverability of our customers’ new or untapped materials is more important than ever before,” said Luc Comeau, market director for MAM and Supply Chain at Dalet.

“However, with this opportunity for increased content ROI comes additional supply chain complexities. Dalet StoreFront enables clients to tap into a rich Dalet MAM inventory with greater efficiency and speed, resurfacing and monetizing otherwise dormant archives, all within the familiar shopping experience that today’s digital shoppers come to expect,” said Comeau.

Taking advantage of the familiar online shopping model and leveraging intuitive browsing to discover content, the Dalet StoreFront makes shopping easily actionable, the company said. It eliminates the back-and-forth exchanges necessary when email is used.

“Requests for content via email and disparate file delivery services are manually intensive and leave far too many opportunities to repurpose and resell content on the table,” said Comeau. “Dalet StoreFront identifies the shopper and presents all of the relevant content options they can choose from, ensuring maximum catalog exposure while keeping content rights intact.”

The Dalet StoreFront makes it easy to license content, the company said. Content owners identify and tag content rights for their licensees and establish rights for visitors and potential licensees.

Dalet StoreFront secures content inventory by keeping all source content under the control and management of Dalet MAM. Only after an order has passed through all checks, automated by Dalet Orchestration, can fulfillment happen, thus creating a segregated browse/shopping experience from the source catalog.

More information is available on the Dalet website. 

BATH. U.K.--Future plc, parent company of TV Technology has acquired SmartBrief, Inc., a US-based digital media publisher, for an initial sum of $45 million. The total consideration would be up to $65 million.

The transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing in the current financial year and in the first full year following completion.

The company said the initial consideration will include $32.2 million in cash funded from its existing debt facilities, with a further $12.8 million to be satisfied through the issue to the vendors of 1.03 million new ordinary shares.

The agreement also includes a deferred consideration based on certain financial targets achieved over the year ending July 31, 2020, which is subject to a cap of $20 million.

The majority of SmartBrief's share capital is owned by three founders, one of whom is still active in the business as CEO, who is expected to remain with SmartBrief post close.

Washington DC-based SmartBrief publishes targeted business news and information, combining technology and editorial expertise to deliver relevant industry news curated from over 1,500 sources. It recorded annual revenues of $35.1 million and adjusted EBITDA of $5.0 million.

SmartBrief operates in partnership with trade associations, professional societies, non-profits and corporations across a range of verticals including business, education, finance, health care, marketing & advertising, retail and food & travel.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO of Future, said, "This acquisition will substantially boost our presence and market position in the B2B sector and enhance our proprietary technology capabilities."

LONDON—TV Technology publisher NewBay Media has been acquired by Future for $13.8 million.

Based in London and New York, NewBay's substantial B2B portfolio operates in verticals including Electronics and Education, TV and Audio. Its business is mainly in the provision of conferences, magazines, events, digital content and data services. It also has a large consumer division in the Music vertical where it publishes magazines including Music Week, Bass Player, Guitar World and Electronic Musician.

The deal expands Future’s reach into the U.S. market and enhances its position in music and consumer electronics. In addition, the acquisition brings B2B titles in the complementary verticals of audio visual, television broadcasting and educational technology, which will further increase Future’s revenue diversification model whilst also bringing B2B expertise to its existing titles.

The acquisition increases Future’s total owned brands to more than 100 across print, events and online, with a total global reach of over 120 million.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO of Future, said: “NewBay is clearly aligned with Future in its mission to create content that connects, with market leading titles. “This acquisition supports our strategy of growth organically and through acquisition, global expansion and revenue diversification. “We have a proven track record of acquisition and successful integration. This deal will be earnings enhancing and drive further organic growth in revenue and profitability in the first full year.”

Steve Palm, President & CEO of NewBay, added: “The NewBay team’s expertise in engaging business decision makers, and providing solutions to sellers around the globe—through events, digital content, and marketing services—complements Future’s capabilities, creating a unique platform and exciting growth trajectory.

"This combination will result in new and better opportunities for both NewBay and Future partners to expand reach and depth of customer interactions throughout the buyer’s journey. Delivering data-driven brand and product awareness, thought leadership and demand for our partners will only be enhanced.

"I am proud of the many accomplishments made by the NewBay team over the last few years in the areas of events, marketing services and digital content, and I am equally excited to work alongside my new colleagues at Future to further grow our ability to delight our millions of users and thousands of partners.”