Acrodyne prepares for transmitter sales growth as high definition TV implementation begins.

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 1997--

- Company Announces Several Staff Additions -

Acrodyne Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRO) today announced the addition of nine new staff members.

A. Robert Mancuso, Chairman and CEO of Acrodyne, stated The FCC mandated switch from the television industry's 50-year old analog technology to the crystal clear digital technology will require a retooling of everything from the TV camera to the antenna. Acrodyne is poised to capture a significant amount of the estimated $1.5 billion new and retrofit television transmitter market, affecting over 5,000 television stations in the U.S. which will need to power up for DTV. To support this burgeoning market, we have made a number of significant additions to our staff to facilitate the sale and marketing of our products, along with the product procurement, manufacturing and quality assurance areas."

Tom Newman - Domestic Sales Manager, High Power Products. His responsibilities include high power UHF transmission system sales in the United States and management of domestic regional sales offices. Tom brings over 25 years of broadcast sales experience to Acrodyne, including 15 years with RCA Broadcast Systems Division in domestic and international sales management positions and as Director of Domestic Television Marketing at Harris Broadcast Group. Most recently, he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Electronic Systems Integration serving the broadcast and satellite markets.

Russ Erickson - Western Regional Sales Manager. Russ brings to Acrodyne 17 years of experience in broadcast engineering, sales and applications engineering, marketing, direct sales, advertising and operations management. Prior to joining the Company, Russ was Regional Sales Manager for LDL Communications and Director of Sales and Marketing for LARCAN-TTC. Russ is responsible for sales and marketing of Acrodyne's products in the western United Sates with emphasis on high-power Diacrode products.

Ronald Frillman - Midwest Regional Sales Manager. Ron brings over 20 years of broadcast sales experience to Acrodyne including 16 years with Harris Corporation Broadcast Division for both domestic and international sales. Ron is certified as a Professional Broadcast Engineer by the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

Miguel Delgado - Sales Manager for Latin America. Miguel brings to Acrodyne over 10 years of experience in selling broadcast equipment in Latin America. Miguel is multi-lingual, and can promote, market and sell Acrodyne products speaking English, Spanish and Portuguese. Prior to joining Acrodyne, he was Sales Manager for Latin America for Continental Electronics Corporation.

Greg Carter - Marketing Manager. His 13 years of experience in journalism and marketing include five years as a Navy Journalist. Prior to joining Acrodyne, Greg was the Marketing Manager for Peirce-Phelps Audio/Video Products and Systems Group in Philadelphia. Greg is responsible for Acrodyne's Domestic and International marketing programs.

Joe Lorenzo - Plant Manager. Joe is responsible for facilities planning, plant layout, process flows and manufacturing methods. His 15 years experience in engineering and management include 10 years of radio and satellite equipment manufacturing. Prior to joining Acrodyne, he was the manufacturing engineer at Submicron Systems, Allentown, PA.

Misty Palmer Blessley - Materials and Inventory Manager. Misty brings to the Company seven years of experience in Purchasing and Materials Management. She is responsible for the level and movement of materials from their time of purchase through their distribution to Acrodyne's customers. Before joining Acrodyne, Misty served as the Materials Control Supervisor at ifm efector, the North American subsidiary of Essen, Germany-based ifm electronic, inc.

Bill Burns - Quality Assurance Manager. Bill comes to the Company with 19 years of Quality Management and Engineering experience in both military and commercial products as a Category "C" instructor. Prior to joining Acrodyne, Bill worked for Aydin Displays, a manufacturer of high-performance video electronics where he implemented and achieved ISO9001 certification. He has also worked on top-level Defense programs including Tomahawk, Sidewinder and E2C as a senior program Quality Engineer for Loral Defense System. Bill is performing in-house training in accordance with IPC standards and is responsible for all aspects of the Acrodyne Quality Management System.

Ed James - Cost Accounting Manager and MIS Coordinator. Prior to joining the Company, Ed was the Comptroller of The Fabric Workshop, a non-profit fabric-based artist workshop and museum in Philadelphia. He is responsible for cost analysis and management reporting for Acrodyne, as well as preparing the Company for increased sales activity as part of the Resource Management Team. Ed is also a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, IMA Controllers Council, IMA Cost Management Group and the Independent Computer Consultants Association.

Mr. Mancuso concluded, The recent National Association of Broadcasters convention (NAB'97) reinforced our belief that the digital high power market is now prepared to begin purchasing new products for the analog to digital DTV conversion. Most of the prospective customers who we talked with at NAB'97 were interested in one primary feature, that analog products purchased today be convertible to digital tomorrow. NAB'97 also exposed the Company to a high level of prospective new customers, anticipated to purchase upwards of $45 million of transmitters over the next twelve months." Acrodyne Industries, Inc., the operating subsidiary of Acrodyne Communications, Inc., is an established and respected manufacturer of television broadcast equipment. In business over 25 years, the Company has developed the leading position as a technologically advanced, high quality low cost producer of transmitters and translators used by television stations to broadcast and retransmit over-the-air signals.

CONTACT: A. Robert Mancuso, Chairman and CEO

ACRODYNE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

[phone]

http://www.acrodyne.com

or

Mona J. Walsh

Stephen D. Axelrod, CFA 

Susan T. Bolen (Media)

WOLFE AXELROD ASSOCIATES

[phone]; [phone] (Fax)

E-mail: [e-mail]