WEGENER™
iPump™ Media Server Selected by Ascent Media Systems & Technology
Services for Store and Forward Network
(January 8, 2004) - DULUTH, Georgia - WEGENER Corporation
(Nasdaq: WGNR) reports today that Ascent Media Systems & Technology
Services (S&TS) has selected WEGENER iPump™ Media Server for
use in an undisclosed customer’s business television network.
The customer plans to convert to store and forward from their current
real-time video and audio delivery. Shipments of WEGENER iPump™
are underway, to support the conversion of the first 75 sites. The full-scale
network conversion, in excess of 1000 units, is slated to follow in
a second phase of the project.
“We are pursuing several opportunities for store and forward conversions
utilizing the WEGENER iPump™," said Tom Canavan, Senior Vice
President, Ascent Media Systems & Technology Services. "WEGENER’s
iPump™ provides customers with many additional capabilities not
available in traditional real-time delivery networks, such as streaming
video and audio to the desktop, more efficient use of expensive satellite
bandwidth and the ability to originate two complete television networks
from a single iPump™.”
WEGENER iPump™ is a digital media server that combines the features
of a professional satellite television receiver and decoder with the
advantages of a video server. Network operators can reduce their satellite
space segment by storing programming in the WEGENER iPump™ and
scheduling play times for it. Utilizing this method, the operator can
utilize limited satellite time to refresh the programming and play-out
schedules and does not need to maintain a constant signal on the satellite.
“For this application, our iPump™ Media Servers are being
equipped with dual decoders, so Ascent Media can help their customer
launch a second network with no additional field upgrades,” states
Ned Mountain, Executive Vice-President of WEGENER. He adds, “Ascent
has been a wonderful customer of ours for the past seven years and we
look forward to the next phase of our partnership including our iPump™
in their portfolio of products.”
About WEGENER Corporation
WEGENER Corporation, through its subsidiary WEGENER Communications,
is an international provider of digital solutions for IP data, video
and audio networks. Applications include IP data delivery, broadcast
television, cable television, radio networks, business television, distance
education, business music, satellite paging and financial information
distribution. COMPEL, WEGENER's patented network control system provides
networks with unparalleled ability to regionalize programming and commercials
through total receiver control. COMPEL network control capability is
integrated into WEGENER digital satellite receivers. WEGENER Communications
can be reached at +1.770.814.4000 or on the World Wide Web at www.WEGENER.com.
COMPEL, ENVOY, UNITY, UNITY·IP and iPump are trademarks of WEGENER
Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Ascent Media Systems & Technology Services
For broadcast, cable and satellite television distribution, as well
as for critical business information systems, Ascent Media Systems and
Technology Services (S&TS) is an industry leader in engineering,
systems integration and technical support of satellite earth stations,
fiber networks, and network management facilities. An operating unit
of Ascent Media Network Services, Ascent Media S&TS offers a full
range of turnkey design engineering services and a unique 24/7 national
field service organization with over 40 U.S. locations combine to provide
extensive network management services, including monitoring, scheduling
and quality control of transponder and/or network access, execution
of scheduled events and full remote control of technical assets.
About Ascent Media Network Services
Ascent Media Network Services (AMNS) specializes in video distribution
and post-production services, with facilities in key hubs including
Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, London, and Singapore. Channel origination,
master control, creative services and transmission are among the many
AMNS offerings utilized by the major broadcast and cable networks as
well as other content providers. In addition, AMNS provides a full array
of engineering and technical services for broadcast, cable, satellite,
and corporate clients. AMNS is part of Santa Monica, CA-based Ascent
Media Group (www.ascentmedia.com), which provides a wide range of services
to the media entertainment industry.
This news release contains
statements, which may be forward-looking within the meaning of applicable
securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. The statements may include projections regarding future
sales results, expected contributions to margins and earnings and market
opportunities, and are based upon the Company's current expectations
and assumptions, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties
including, but not limited to: customer acceptance and effectiveness
of recently introduced UNITY digital video products, development of
additional business for the Wegener digital and analog video and audio
transmission product lines, effectiveness of the revitalized international
sales organization, the successful development and introduction of new
products in the future, delays in the conversion by private and broadcast
networks to digital broadcast equipment, acceptance by various networks
of standards for digital broadcasting, general market conditions which
may not improve during fiscal year 2003 and beyond, and success of Wegener's
research and development efforts aimed at developing new products. Discussion
of these and other risks and uncertainties are provided in detail in
the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, including the Form 10-K.
The Company intends that such forward-looking statements are subject
to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these statements involve
risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's
actual results could differ materially from expected or inferred results.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was
made. Wegener Corporation does not undertake and specifically disclaims
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.