Ampex Data Systems and Tektronix Formalize Joint Marketing Agreement; Companies Address Storage Needs of Mid- to High-End Broadcast and Video Operations.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1999--Ampex Data Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ampex Corporation (Amex:AXC) and Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE:TEK) have announced a new joint marketing agreement.

In response to the growing trend toward facility automation, the companies will jointly offer mid- to high-end broadcasters and video customers an expandable DST(R) digital video archive from Ampex that is fully compatible with the new network-attached storage architecture from Tektronix.

The agreement between Ampex Data Systems and Tektronix involves a combined effort to work with facilities transitioning to digital playback that need digital archives for storage of commercial spots, news archival material, and short and long format programming. The combination of the Ampex DST libraries and the Tektronix Profile(R) video server addressed the need for massive, reliable and fast-access digital archives that seamlessly integrate into a network-attached storage architecture.

"Over the past two years Tektronix and Ampex have installed Profile servers with DST libraries in many of our major customers sites with great success," said Brian J. Cabeceiras, director of the video and networking division for Tektronix. "The formalization of this co-marketing agreement now allows new and existing Profile customers to further enhance their system with affordable and proven archiving technology."

Under this new agreement, Ampex and Tektronix will design and implement joint marketing programs, reciprocal sales training and education programs, and product optimization strategies to best present broadcast and video customers with a tested, reliable high-performance solution for their digital archiving requirements.

Ampex DST automated cartridge libraries are high-performance, reliable digital archives with unlimited expansion capabilities to accommodate a facility's growing video storage requirements. The Profile Network Archive architecture connects multiple Profile video servers to the archive system via industry-leading Fibre Channel technology and an archive management server, allowing multiple Profile servers access to the same or multiple libraries. The archive management server employed offers interfaces to Ampex libraries including the DST 412, DST 712 and the DST 812. The Profile Network Archive solution expands easily, providing an affordable, scalable storage option.

"In our partnership with Tektronix, we are teaming with another market leader to provide archive solutions which meet the most demanding requirements of our broadcast and video customers," said K. Michael Cooper, president of Ampex Data Systems.

Tektronix Profile Product Line

The world's most popular video server has shipped more than 14,000 channels to date, confirming Tektronix' position as the video server market leader. The Emmy(R) award-winning Profile server is a key element in the Tektronix Digital Media Foundation(TM) (DMF) initiative for the transition to digital broadcasting. The DMF initiative provides broadcasters with a server-based foundation for applications ranging from post and live production to on-air replay.

Ampex DST Product Line

Ideal for the archiving and retrieval of video and images in broadcast and video environments, Ampex DST automated cartridge libraries offer unlimited storage capacities combined with optimum speed, performance and reliability. The Company's innovative and patented technologies reduce the cost of storage to pennies per megabyte, simplify media management and lower overhead by reducing the need to track and house large numbers of cartridges.

For more sales information, please e-mail Ampex at [e-mail] or call toll-free 800/752-7590.

Ampex Data Systems Corporation (www.ampex.com), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is one of the world's leading providers of technologies for the acquisition, storage and processing of visual information. Ampex designs and delivers extremely high-capacity,high-performance digital image storage solutions for large-scale corporate, government, network, entertainment and telecommunications applications. Ampex Data Systems customers include such leading organizations as AT&T, the Federal Aviation Administration, Fox Television, HBO, Netcom and Prevue Networks. Ampex Data Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ampex Corporation (Amex:AXC).