Sinclair Broadcast Group To Test WaveXpress Datacasting Technology For E-Commerce Over Digital Television Spectrum

6-Apr-00

Baltimore, Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBGI) and WaveXpress, a new technology company created to provide e-commerce entertainment and datacasting services to digital TV broadcasters, announced an agreement to test the WaveXpress technology and services over the digital television (DTV) spectrum of selected Sinclair stations. WaveXpress has developed an open end-to-end system, which allows television broadcasters to offer e-commerce transactions of rich quality digital content, including video, games, software, music and Internet content to consumers on digital televisions and PCs. Consumers receive a high-speed signal over the air via a TV antenna, and process both the data and video portions through a DTV tuner plugged into their PC. The WaveXpress system allows users to purchase information, entertainment, products and services quickly and securely. ""We plan to work closely with WaveXpress to explore their model, which may lead to greater opportunities for both parties,"" said David B. Amy, Executive Vice President of Sinclair. ""The WaveXpress system provides a dynamic and open architecture that will allow broadcasters to harness the economic power of their digital spectrum."" To deliver this revolutionary new service, WaveXpress is leveraging its resources from Wave Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: WAVX), a leader in trusted client technology, and Sarnoff Corporation, a pioneer in broadcasting and HDTV. The WaveXpress system benefits all major industry players. Broadcast groups, such as Sinclair, may realize new revenue streams from the use of digital spectrum. Content providers and advertisers can benefit from targeted, efficient and fast delivery systems. ""WaveXpress is honored to be working with Sinclair to test and develop our technology and services,"" said Cliff Jenks, CEO of WaveXpress. ""We are excited by the opportunity to introduce WaveXpress to Sinclair's markets and to demonstrate the distinctive value of our application to Sinclair's broadcast audience."" About SinclairSinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is a diversified broadcasting company that currently owns or programs 61 television stations in 40 markets and six radio stations in one market. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 25 percent of US television households and includes ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, WB, and UPN affiliates. Sinclair, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sinclair Ventures, owns equity interests in Internet-related companies including BeautyBuys.com, Inc., an e-tailer of brand name health and beauty products; NetFanatics, Inc., an e-business solutions and applications provider; and Synergy Brands, Inc., an incubator of on-line consumer product companies. Other strategic investments of Sinclair Broadcast Group include Acrodyne Communications, Inc., a leading manufacturer of transmitters and other television broadcast equipment.About WaveXpress, Inc.WaveXpress, a joint venture between Wave Systems Corp. and Sarnoff Corporation, provides a full range of secure data broadcast architecture, infrastructure, and content services to broadcasters, content providers and consumers. WaveXpress' broadcast e-commerce system offers a variety of business models, including ad-supported content distribution, pay-per-use, purchase transactions, and subscription services. Sarnoff is contributing its broadcast engineering expertise. Wave Systems is providing its Embassy technology and back office systems to handle distributed content protection and transaction reporting functions. For more information, please visit the WaveXpress Web site at http://www.wavexpress.com.About Wave SystemsFounded in 1988, the mission of Wave Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: WAVX) is to create the world's best technologies and services to secure and sell digital information. Embedded in PC hardware and peripherals, set-top boxes and other devices, Wave's Embassy ""trusted client"" technology forms the foundation for a new client-based distribution and purchasing model for content and services. This low-cost, secure ""system within a system"" will enable the personal computer to assume an important new role in the evolving digital economy. For more information, please visit Wave's corporate Web site at http://www.wave.com.About SarnoffSarnoff Corporation creates and commercializes electronic, biomedical and information technology. Founded in 1942 as RCA Laboratories, Sarnoff is now a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of SRI International. The company's innovations include the development of color television and the liquid-crystal display, a leadership role in creating the technology for digital television and HDTV in the US, and key contributions to the MPEG standards. Sarnoff works with industry and government clients to develop and improve specific technologies that will help change the world. The company has founded 18 new companies to bring its technologies to market.

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