AAFES Upgrades its WEGENER COMPEL Network Control System

Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Upgrades its WEGENER® COMPEL® Network Control System

AAFES Exchange Television (EXTV), Business Television (BTV), and AAFES Radio Network (ARN) Channels are Managed and Delivered by COMPEL to Retail Locations Worldwide 

DULUTH, Georgia – Wegener Corporation (Nasdaq: WGNR), a leading provider of equipment for television, audio and data distribution networks worldwide, today announced that the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)—which operates retail outlets that provide goods and services to U.S. military personnel and their families—recently upgraded its WEGENER® COMPEL® network control system. 

COMPEL enables AAFES to deliver addressable digital HD video, SD video, and audio content to satellite receivers at over 100 retail outlets, including stores, filling stations, food courts, barbershops and concession stands located on military bases across the U.S. and abroad. 

AAFES has been continually expanding and upgrading its private audio/video network, which has been based upon WEGENER equipment since the U.S. military established it in 1994.   AAFES delivers three program services: Exchange Television (EXTV), Business Television (BTV), and the AAFES Radio Network (ARN). 

EXTV is a digital signage service, comprised of promotional and consumer information, music videos, movie trailers, and advertising, which enhance the retail experience and help sell high definition televisions in the stores.  BTV provides SD video programming for distance training of back-office retail personnel.  ARN provides two ad-supported radio channels that pipe music into the stores.

AAFES uses a centrally located WEGENER COMPEL network control system to broadcast addressable digital files via satellite to select retail outlets that are equipped with WEGENER iPUMP® 6400 media servers, each of which has two independent video channels feeding EXTV and BTV respectively. These iPUMP 6400 media servers provide direct SD output for the BTV service and stream HD media content to WEGENER SMD-515 external decoders for the EXTV service in point-of-sale locations.  ARN delivers background music content via WEGENER Unity® 201 satellite audio receivers deployed at retail outlets worldwide. 

Upgrading COMPEL enables AAFES to replace its legacy servers with servers that can run the latest version of WEGENER software. Going forward, WEGENER will focus on developing new features and capabilities for the new COMPEL systems.

According to Ned L. Mountain, president and chief operating officer for WEGENER, “We’re pleased that AAFES has chosen to upgrade its COMPEL network control system.  We’ve been extremely privileged to be part of the AAFES network since its inception, and look forward to continuing our support for the network as its needs change and grow.” 

About AAFES
Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) provides goods and services to U.S. military and authorized family members worldwide while generating earnings that help support the morale, welfare, and recreation programs of the U.S. Army and Air Force.  AAFES operates more than 3,100 facilities, including 160 large retail stores, and 2,063 fast food restaurants, in more than 30 countries, five U.S. territories, and 49 U.S. states.  AAFES is based in Dallas, Texas, with a website at www.aafes.com.

ABOUT WEGENER
WEGENER® (Wegener Communications, Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wegener Corporation (Nasdaq: WGNR), is an international provider of digital solutions for video, audio, and IP data networks. Applications include IP data delivery, broadcast television, cable television, radio networks, business television, distance education, business music and financial information distribution. Compel®, WEGENER’s patented network control system, provides networks with unparalleled ability to regionalize programming and commercials.  Compel® network control capability is integrated into WEGENER® digital satellite receivers. WEGENER® can be reached at +1.770.814.4000 or on the World Wide Web at www.wegener.com.

WEGENER, COMPEL, COMPEL CONTROL, iPUMP, MEDIAPLAN, UNITY, ASSURED FILE DELIVERY, PANDA, PROSWITCH, VIDATA, the stylized W-design logo (for WEGENER®), the stylized C-design logo (for Compel®) and the stylized PANDA design logo are all registered trademarks of WEGENER®.  All Rights Reserved.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the Company intends that such forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates," and similar expressions, and include, for example, statements relating to expectations regarding  future sales, income and cash flows.  Forward-looking statements 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 products, development of additional business for the Company’s digital video and audio transmission product lines, effectiveness of the sales organization, the successful development and introduction of new products in the future, delays in the conversion by private and broadcast networks to next generation digital broadcast equipment, acceptance by various networks of standards for digital broadcasting, the Company’s liquidity position and capital resources, general market conditions which may not improve during fiscal year 2008 and beyond, and success of the Company’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 Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.  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 results.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.