WEGENER Receives U.S. Patent for Cost-Effective Solution for Preserving Data Services Embedded in Video Signals


WEGENER Innovation Re-Inserts Vital VBI Data Signals into Video within Satellite Media Receivers without Additional External Circuitry

DULUTH, Ga., Jan. 16 -- Wegener Corporation (NASDAQ:WGNR), a leading provider of equipment for television, audio, and data distribution networks worldwide today announced it has been granted a U.S. patent for an innovative, cost-effective technique designed to improve the operation of standard definition satellite media receivers.

The new patent, entitled: "Re-inserting VBI Data using OSD Apparatus and Method," was awarded December 25, 2007 as Patent No. 7,312,831. During the digital video encoding process, valuable data is stripped out of the VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) of standard definition video including: closed captioning, AMOL (Automated Measurement of Lineups -- used for rating measurements), XDS data for V-Chip, and Teletext in Europe. WEGENER® embeds its solution within its satellite media receivers to re-insert those data services back into the VBI prior to sending the signals to viewers' television sets.

"The problem we found was that most chipsets on the market don't readily support re-inserting all of this data into the VBI. Most will re-insert the closed captioning but not the AMOL or other valuable information," said Ned L. Mountain, President and Chief Operating Officer of WEGENER®. "WEGENER®'s solution uses the decoding chip's on-screen-display circuitry to render the data waveforms directly onto the VBI signals of the video. In this way, all VBI services are still supported, without adding any additional cost to the receiver."

Mountain added that this patented technology is embedded in select WEGENER® satellite media receivers, including the Unity® 4600.

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.

Source: Wegener Corporation

CONTACT:

Robin Hoffman
of Pipeline Communications
+1-973-746-6970
robinh@pipecomm.com

Web site: www.wegener.com/

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