OOH Vision Networks Taps Helius and Microspace Communications For Regional Digital Signage Network

Digital Signage Shows a Growing Trend in Retail Environments
LINDON, UTAH and RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA—MARCH 8, 2005—Helius, Inc. (Helius), the worldwide leader in business class data broadcasting solutions, and Microspace Communications Corporation (Microspace), the leading provider of point-to-multipoint satellite services, today announced a joint partnership with OOH (out-of-home) Vision Networks LLC (OVN) to implement OVN’s proprietary digital signage network in over 100 diners in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. OVN, based in Hazlet, NJ, delivers rich multimedia advertising and infotainment to provide dynamic media content to the consumer while providing a revenue stream to the diner.

Technological innovation is driving down the cost of implementing digital signage as a marketing tool, spurring market adoption and further fueling this growth. According to the International Communications Industries Association's 2005 Market Forecast Survey, the audiovisual (AV) industry – which includes digital signage – produced revenues of almost $19 Billion in 2004 in North America. This number is expected to grow by an annual rate of 9.6 percent for the next five years.

According to OVN CEO Craig Presser, the diner locations were chosen because they combined a large captive audience with multiple marketing opportunities. “The average stay in a diner is 40 minutes. We have created ‘ocean-front property’ that brings added-value to an advertiser’s impression level, allowing each advertisement to be viewed nearly six times during the course of a meal. Adding to an incredible retention level, OVN’s network drives a strong call to action with each advertiser’s spot being viewed over 173,000 times per location per month. OVN’s initial network roll-out will serve over 5.8 billion impressions annually to its diner patrons. With this type of opportunity, it was important that we chose partners with the right solutions that could adapt to our specific needs. We see great opportunities for the technology in other markets beside diners and believe the framework and the solutions in place with OVN, Helius and Microspace will be successful.”

Helius MediaWrite® platform, a content distribution management system located at Microspace’s facilities, aggregates the total content and determines what is distributed to each diner. The content is then sent to the individual diner using Microspace’s VELOCITY® satellite service. A Helius’ MediaGate Router located at each diner stores and replays the content.

OVN’s Vice President of Operations Robert Goldner notes that after evaluating a DSL solution they chose satellite and Microspace’s VELOCITY because it provided the most affordable and easily implemented option for diners, most of which do not have Internet access. “When considering a Dynamic Image Provisioning Application, infrastructure and delivery methods are key. The affinity of Microspace’s satellite delivery with Helius’ turnkey hardware/software solution offered a cost efficient and streamlined solution for a network of this size. In addition, satellite is point-to-multipoint which translates into a faster network that is suited to Out of Home Alternative Media.” Goldner added that overall seamless functionality between Helius’ and Microspace’s products made the choice an easy decision.

The participating diners benefit from the network’s ability to provide dynamic media content to the consumer and to support local and regional community organizations while providing a revenue stream from it. OVN also points to joint marketing opportunities such as sweepstakes conducted in partnership with OVN where contestants can “eat, watch, and win”.

About OOH Vision Networks
OOH Vision Networks (OVN) offers multimedia advertising over its proprietary network of diner and retail locations with its state-of-the-art real-time delivery infrastructure.
OVN is dedicated to creating digital media networks for advertising, promotion, and infotainment (e.g. stock quotes, sports scores, traffic reports, weather reports, and up-to-date news) to reach consumers wherever they eat, shop, and commune in public venues.
OVN has exclusive agreements with hundreds of locations throughout the tri-state area, ensuring advertisers the greatest reach and frequency to capture the tri-state area's most valuable demographics. www.oohvisionnetworks.com

About Helius, Inc.
Helius provides leading business class data broadcasting solutions through secure and reliable delivery of broadband IP over satellites and local area networks. Helius products serve as the communications bridge between the satellite transmission and terrestrial integration of business-critical data, addressing in particular the stringent requirements for video transmission. This reliable and secure integration gives organizations the ability to implement new high bandwidth applications such as digital signage, distance learning, and corporate sales training and deliver these applications from satellite distribution straight to employee desktops. For more information, visit www.helius.com.

About Microspace
Microspace Communications Corporation (Microspace) is the leading provider of satellite services for video, data and audio content distribution and operates the largest global business satellite broadcasting network, with over 315,000 remote links worldwide. A variety of both businesses and government organizations rely upon Microspace’s VELOCITY® for high-quality, cost-effective and secure content distribution at savings of up to 98% over terrestrial services. VELOCITY supports customers such as Morgan Stanley, LodgeNet, Muzak and the Christian Radio Consortium via a wide range of IP broadband applications such as business TV, distance learning, digital signage and digital cinema, among many others. The service is available as either a dedicated solution or as an on-demand service, enabling customers to easily and affordably expand their bandwidth as their needs change. Founded in 1988 with headquarters in the U.S and a presence in Europe and Latin America, Microspace is a subsidiary of Capitol Broadcasting Company. For more information, visit www.microspace.com.

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