ASACA Debuts Blue Laser Libraries at NAB; Libraries Provide Broadcast Industry with Flexible, High Capacity and Low Cost Per Terabyte Video Storage Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NAB2004

Booth #SL4342

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2004

Highlighting its position as a provider of next-generation optical storage solutions to the professional broadcasting industry, ASACA Corp. will debut the industry's largest blue laser-based library, the TeraCart(R), in their booth #SL4342 during NAB 2004. Based on Sony's Professional Disc for DATA(TM) drives, these new libraries offer more than double the capacity of red laser optical libraries and data throughput speeds comparable to tape-based solutions. The new libraries offer familiar optical disc benefits, including virtually instant random access, scaleable capacity and an economical cost per terabyte (TB), giving broadcast and video productions professionals a cost-effective solution for storing and managing video workflow.

Incorporating blue laser technology into the flexible design of the award-winning TeraCart library opens entirely new possibilities in the way video will be managed. Oversized files can be moved at high speed to facilitate editing and project collaboration, ultimately introducing significant new efficiencies to a station's overall workflow. Blue laser technology, with a shorter wavelength than red, can read and store data at much higher densities needed for high-definition recordings. For video recording and playback, the blue laser technology provides far greater recording capacity and bandwidth than conventional red laser.

With ProDATA technology, a single disc can store up to two hours of digital satellite high-definition programming at up to 11MB/sec, or 90 minutes of DVCAM material, or up to 45 minutes of MPEG IMX material recorded at 50 Mbps (55 minutes at 40 Mbps and 75 minutes at 30 Mbps). Incorporated into the TeraCart, ProDATA users can access up to 800 hours of HDTV content; yet the TeraCart requires no more than a four foot square of floor space. In addition, the media is rated for more than 1,000 rewrites for even greater cost efficiency to the professional user.

"Existing optical technologies are being challenged due to the growth of content and bit rates," said Chuck Larabie, vice president of sales and marketing for ASACA/ShibaSoku Corp. "The new line of TeraCart libraries based on Sony's Professional Disc for DATA blue laser optical drives gives studios a viable option superior to tape libraries."

Designed to meet the performance and 7x24 operation requirements of today's environments, the new TeraCart is an ideal solution for a broad range of commercial and professional data storage use in all major markets including medical, broadcast, healthcare and government. Available with SAN and NAS support, the modular library offers the flexibility to start with a single cabinet and expand to as many as eight libraries for capacities reaching hundreds of terabytes. Using pass-through and infrared communications, the libraries can be easily managed as a single physical unit.

A superior option to tape libraries, a single Professional Disc for DATA media cartridge can hold up to 23GB of data and the libraries can be equipped with one to six Sony Professional Disc for DATA drives. NAB attendees can experience the new TeraCart libraries with Professional Disc for DATA technology this week at ASACA's booth #SL4342.

Price/Availability

ASACA's expanded line of TeraCart libraries integrating Sony's professional-grade blue laser technology drives and ProDATA media are now available in three scaleable models: the AM80, the AM240 and the AM420 offering up to 1.8TB, 5.5TB and 9.8TB storage, respectively. ASACA's TeraCart AM Series with Sony blue laser and ProDATA technologies are expected to have a starting price of $20,000. Sony's 5.25-inch rewritable and write-once ProDATA media stores up to 23GB on a single side and is now available for $45 per disc.

About ASACA

Founded in 1971, the ASACA/ShibaSoku Corp. has its U.S. headquarters in Golden, Colo. A leading developer of high-capacity, high-performance data storage solutions, the company is focused on serving broadcast and data storage markets worldwide. For complete information on the TeraCart AM Series, visit the ASACA Web site at www.asaca.com.