<<<<< QUESTION LIST PROCESSED >>>>>
Sent by US Postal Priority Mail and also e-mailed as described
Cover letter:
In accordance with the invitation to mail in questions for the June 28 Ampex Corp. live Webcast, we are attaching questions collected over the past three weeks.
The questions originated on the Internet Yahoo! Finance and Silicon Investor Ampex message boards. We three volunteered to collect, edit for corrections, and group these questions.
Along with the name of the questioner, or the Internet handle, these messages are presented in their entirety. We hardly expect anyone to address all of them. However, in the interest of enriching the content of the June 28th Webcast, please feel free to select appropriate questions or to summarize more general answers as is seen fit.
Allow me to say on behalf of all us, that we appreciate this Webcast effort being put forth by Ampex Corp. and affiliates and are each eagerly anticipating this event.
Note that this list is being simultaneously e-mailed and US Postal Priority Mailed to Ms Karen Schweikher and Mr. Dave Gardy.
the list:
ADVERTISING PUBLIC RELATIONS and CORPORATE BRANDING
With all of the developments surrounding Ampex over the last six months: does it not seem odd that not one, solitary, forward looking analyst has seen fit to initiate coverage; or, that one has failed to issue a positive recommendation? Notwithstanding AXC's historically low profile, I find it hard to fathom that no one else is watching this company. Surely we AXC longs are not the only ones who see its potential...?
...John M - Silicon Investor 6/1
How is the "Branding of Ampex" progressing?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
What kind of advertising do we have for the DST's? Although this may take a backseat to
Internet related questions, i bought AXC under a buck based on the potential of DST . As bandwidth increased, i reasoned data storage would experience exponential growth. Comments?
...NosajTheWarriorKing - Yahoo! Finance 6/2
What exactly is our business relationship with MWW Group and when will they start a public relations campaign for the "NEW" Ampex (if that is their function).
...bearpi9 - Yahoo! Finance 6/5
Recent releases cite "...TVontheWEB, a strategic partner of Ampex...": From an Ampex perspective, would we not be better served in such contexts by defining TVontheWEb, as a " A subsidiary of Ampex" ?
...Michael Olds - Silicon Investor 6/9
(1)Why does Ampex appear to shun publicity for ANY of its accomplishments? It makes no sense to keep everything a secret until every piece is in place, unless there is a strategic advantage to doing so. Is there some strategic advantage in so doing?
(2)Has Ampex received any offers or to be bought out or to form strategic alliances with that it has not made public?
(3) What has Raymond Marione been doing the last 5 months, if anything?
...Billy__Clinton - Yahoo! Finance 6/9
FINANCING and CASH FLOWS
Where will the money for future Ampex plans come from?
...Hal Campbell - Silicon Investor 5/28
Can you amplify "The Story Please"...in other words: how will Ampex weave all of its wonderful technology, "aquisitions", and advancements into revenue and profits?
...TheStoryPlease - Yahoo! Finance 6/2
With declining storage sales, and all currently available cash and credit flowing into
narrowcasting and streaming video content, what areas of this new business will produce revenues; and, how long before we might see such results? Does Ampex believe expected advertising and channel hosting fees sufficient to become profitable; or, do you have another potential source of income producing revenue?
...hookjock - Yahoo! Finance 6/4
ROYALTIES and RELATED
Is Ampex Data Systems receiving any royalties from digital cameras?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
Does Ampex feel royalties will grow from here?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
Regarding details of the Mitsubishi settlement. While not related to the operational aspects of the Internet strategy, it can be argued that it is a funding source. I haven't seen any evidence that this question was asked at the annual meeting (hope I'm wrong on this).
...JoCo - Silicon Investor 5/29
U.S. Patent Number 843565, entitled, "Particulate magnetic medium utilizing keeper technology and methods of manufacture" clearly states that "the flexible, particulate magnetic media may be used in tape or flexible disc formats." Recent advances to quadruple the density of DST devices were apparently realized by changes in the read / write head design. What further magnitude of density gains could be expected if keepered flexible media were used on a DST device? If practical, could this technology be licensed to other digital tape storage device manufacturers?
...Glenn Perry - Silicon Investor 6/2
DVD seems to be the hot off-line video technology for the next year. Does Ampex have any proprietary DVD technology from which they derive royalties?
...Michael Olds - Silicon Investor 6/10
What exactly is the "advanced video technology" Ampex has licensed to an unnamed electronics company, and which patents are involved?
... NosajTheWarriorKing - Yahoo! Finance - 6/17
JOINT VENTURES and PARTNERING
Ampex may need financing soon and Kodak needs digital expertise due to the Video Market going digital. Is Ampex doing any joint venture research with Kodak, given its considerable photographic expertise?
...Skip Miller - Silicon Investor 5/28
Do we have any potential partners with "clout and cash"? Is anyone even interested? No names need be mentioned, but a confirmation of such potential would suffice for now. That's all I need to know. Without one, it'll be tough.
...Al Cassaro - Silicon Investor 5/28
Could you further elaborate on the joint venture - Executive Branch TV. What events are likely to be covered? When do you anticipate roll out? Have you any plans, should Executive TV be successful, for similar coverage of Congress?
...Sleeper - Silicon Investor 6/1
Internet II is an imminent reality, and a bunch of well known names are already involved. Where is Ampex and why is it not on this list?
internet2.edu
...john adriaan kolenberg - Silicon Investor 6/1
AFFILIATE OPERATIONS and RESULTS
As TVW grows, will they remain profitable?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
What "rights" to "shows", ie "Sonny & Cher" does AENTV actually own if any?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
Are TVW & AENTV compiling "hit" statistics; is there any percentage change worth noting?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
My main question is in regard to the business plan for AENTV. What is their source of revenue? Advertising?
...Carl R. - Silicon Investor May 29
Are there plans to have AENTV and TVontheWeb work together or will they evolve separately?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
What is the status of the New York production site in terms of personnel and facility?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
How many subsidiaries does Ampex envision having?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
What is the time table for developing the overseas facilities?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
What is meant by: "Rudisill will be responsible for the web sites of the company's new internal Internet video channels based in New York and for the integration of all of the company's video web sites including those of its existing affiliates TVontheWEB and Alternative Entertainment Network TV. " What is meant by integration?
...baycaney - Yahoo! Finance - 6/3
What is the synergy among the new Internet divisions, Ampex Data, and Micronet?
...Hugh D. Phillips - Silicon Investor 6/3
TVW may have 20 channels and others on the way but some of them seem" dead" absent any new programming . For example, Business Uncut promised a new show every week but there hasn't been one since 3/15/99. Will there be an effort to get the sponsors to underwrite new programming as promised? Will "dead" channels be dropped because they might diminish TVontheWeb's general reputation?
...Hugh D. Phillips - Silicon Investor 6/3
Will the "new" Ampex Internet Video Group enterprise have mobile units ? Or will the facilities be exclusively in- house, that is, studio based? What is the cost of the initial setup of these production facilities, and will AENTV share them, or incorporate with TVW ? How soon will profits be realized after the official launch?
...df - Silicon Investor 6/5
Does Ampex consider Ampex Storage Systems ( DST's & Micronet ) to be Video-On-Demand TV oriented or almost entirely internet oriented? If both, what is the anticipated breakdown, in percentage terms between the two uses?
...valuehunter - SiliconInvestor 6/13
REITER ASSOCIATES SPECIFIC
Why the sudden change in plan concerning Reiter? They were to be the first Co. that AXC was going to exercise options on and now it appears to be just an investment. What did Ampex think Reiter provided and now is no longer needed; or, is it just delayed in order to get the streaming video sites (TVW & AEN) under AXC umbrella to raise funds for growth (possible / probable IPO).
...NosajTheWarriorKing - Yahoo! Finance 5/31
With all the channels and clients that TVW has, and the clientele that AENTV handles, does Ampex see Reiter as the hub for managing, creating, and promoting the content and facilities of the web sites for these customers ? Since Reiter is apparently managing Ampex's, the parent company's, web presence and content, wouldn't it be to Ampex's advantage to use Reiter's resources for this? If not, what will become of the relationship with Reiter down the road ?
...df - Silicon Investor 6/17
CORE BUSINESS COMPETITION
How can AXC compete for content with broadcast networks that have in some cases been in existence for over 50 years?
...JoCo - Silicon Investor 5/29
Can AXC provide any value added to archived network content by digitizing?
...JoCo - Silicon Investor 5/29
As is indicated by the LA and NY Ampex sites currently under development, what is the Ampex Corporate Production and Distribution strategy? While references in Ampex announcements and news-releases have indirectly compared this effort to that of TVW and AENTV, what does this initiative really mean in terms of an Ampex specific strategy?
...B. A. Marlow - Silicon Investor May 31
Given the Ampex West Coast production facility's proximity to the wealth of talent in the movie industry, and the intended relocation of AENTV to this facility, it appears that emphasis on the LA facility's operation will be slanted towards that wealth of resources / talent. No such corresponding inkling thus far for the east coast NY facility. Will the East Coast & West Coast production facilities have separate mandates or emphasis, or will there be overlapping emphasis for these two facilities?
...DrD - Silicon Investor 6/1
Would you also explain "Ampex's strategy is to use its technological expertise to increase the content and quality of Internet video." What can and will Ampex do with Internet video that others can not or have not done?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
If AXC reveals a new way to stream commercial advertising, are any of our (AXC's) patents involved (someone noted possibly PIP picture in picture)? If not, will all streaming media companies be able to duplicate us without licensing the technology?
...NosajTheWarriorKing - Yahoo! Finance 6/3
AT&T spun off Lucent Technologies (former Western Electric), because potential customers of Lucent were competitors of AT&T, and therefore reluctant to buy their products. Ampex is now in a similar situation--where many of their potential customers will be / are competitors in the Streaming Video market. Have you, or would you, give any consideration to divesting Data Systems in an IPO, or even a private sale?
...curiouswalker - Yahoo! Finance 6/4
Three questions adapted from Investors Business Daily issue dated 6/7
First, what's the Web company's unique value to customers? What is its profit model?
Secondly, how will it make money on its oldest customers? Take Amazon - it loses money in acquiring new customers. On the customers it acquired in 1996, it's making a ton of money. Gaining 6 million new customers a year overshadows profits with customer-acquisition costs. And thirdly, what protects the Net company's profits from customer power (the ability for customers to easily search for lower prices from other vendors)?
...Thomas Kirwin - Silicon Investor 6/5
Although we are in the infancy of narrowcasting, the quantity of channels being established by TVW certainly implies a future of picture perfect quality. What does Ampex company see re: the delivery vehicle for full screen clear video and stereo quality audio?
...bootsup1 - Yahoo! Finance 6/12
NEW INITIATIVES - BUSINESS STRATEGY
Would you please explain the comment that "we are positioning ourselves to expand the range, content and quality of our offerings in line with future increases in the availability of high-speed Internet access." Specifically what does range, content and quality refer to?
...Chris Elsass - Silicon Investor 6/3
Some say a couple of $billion worth of e-business is being conducted from adult web sites, i.e. selling porn. My question: are the Ampex affiliates going to stay out of this potentially lucrative market in order to cultivate a certain businesslike image, i.e. not do any narrowcasting or other -casting of adult entertainment? Or is a channel with AMple Presentation of EXtremities not categorically excluded?
...Scott Pedigo - Silicon Investor 6/2
What are your plans for DST beyond broadcasting? Are Internet and enterprise storage solutions in the picture?
...Hugh D, Phillips - Silicon Investor 6/3
Will you wed Micronet with Ampex Data to provide a complete storage system for the Internet, and for enterprise storage. If so what are your marketing plans? When will the new channels on TVW be rolled out?
...Hugh D, Phillips - Silicon Investor 6/3
How many Internet sites are you planning and what is the time frame?
...Hugh D, Phillips - Silicon Investor 6/3
Many of us originally thought Ampex was entering the Internet arena via Reiter as way to enter the Internet Data Backup market. We felt this was a terrific self-serving idea, which would put the incredible DST storage capabilities into the hands of the masses. Since that time we have seen IBM enter the Backup market, discovered companies such as WWW.BACKUP.COM, and others. Except for a brief mention of Data Backup in Malta over the Fiber lines there, we have not seen any mention of Ampex getting into this potentially huge market, even though Ampex has the very best equipment for the job. Is Ampex (or Ampex Data Systems) planning any strategies along the lines of Internet Data Backup Services?
...curiouswalker - Yahoo! Finance 6/2
Any plans to buy cash starved companies with a great product? A good example is mPhase symbol XDSL. They make an improved DSL device which has been tested in Hartwell GA with 1000 subscribers delivering internet service at 6.2 MPS downstream and 1 MPS upstream. Also 199 Mpeg-2 TV channels! Plans to upgrade to 400 channels. They need cash! With cash they may be able to make a deal with Bell South!
...Hugh D, Phillips - Silicon Investor 6/9
Will the newly formed Ampex Internet Group be working toward producing an Advertising Industry service or product specifically targeting focused marketing in a narrowcasting sense or eventually interactive TV marketing in a convergence sense?
...Ed Perry - Silicon Investor 6/15
Does Ampex have plans to enter into Latin American markets, or some channels in Spanish?
...Carol M. Morse - Silicon Investor 6/18
NEW INITIATIVES - DIRECTIONS in TECHNOLOGY
Is Ampex working in the direction of development, acquisition, licensing or utilization of
existing AMPEX technology for a video and/or internet video search engine? For example, Search FasTV.com has one for a video news, information and entertainment search engine.
See: fastv.com
...Tom Kirwin - Silicon Investor May30
Wouldn't it be in Ampex's. TVoW's, AENTV's interest and any of the new channels soon to be put on the web by Ampex and it affiliates, to be on all known video viewers and or tv video card slots or hdtv cards and all new ones that come out in the future, instead of just staying with RealNetworks and Microsoft media viewer?
...john adriaan kolenberg - Silicon Investor May 31
Is Ampex looking into developing / buying a video viewer and improving it with Ampex technology? For example the up and coming video viewer done by tranz-send combines server software and a special PC player device.
See: wired.com
tranz-send.com
...john adriaan kolenberg - Silicon Investor May 31
From the 96 Ampex Annual Report: "...AXC does not want to be known only as Keeper Technology company...we have other technologies...". You have kept us in suspense for 3 years now, Shame the devil, tell the truth...what are those technologies?
...Swamp Fox Charlie - Silicon Investor 6/4
Does Ampex plan to support multiple video players, and if so would it include Real, Quick-Time, Emblaze, or Microsoft? Does Ampex expect to establish a broader relationship with the developers of any of these players. Will Ampex technology be used in any of these players?
...Carl R. - Silicon Investor 6/9
SHAREHOLDER SPECIFIC
One of the first questions that comes to my mind is actually a request of Ampex HQ to grant participation of any IPO's that may arise to be offered on favorable "insider" terms to long term shareholders.
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
What is the status of the $4 convertibles? Have they all been converted? If not, can you estimate how many of them remain as possible additions to the float?
...RidgeRunner (Doug Schott) - Silicon Investor 6/9
"Does Drew Cummings and Dave Gardy own AXC stock and if so how much?" The answer might be the most telling sign of how these two gentlemen feel about AXC stock and their relationship with Ampex Inc.
... K.Martin - Silicon Investor 6/14
What would you say to shareholder concerns about the pressures on stock price arising out of financing deals which seem to encourage "shorting" by holders of preferred convertibles?
Is there not a more shareholder friendly means to raise money?
...Carl R. - Silicon Investor 6/17
GENERAL and MISCELLANEOUS
How was the banana bread at the June 28 Annual meeting?
...Hal Campbell - Silicon Investor 5/28
What is his price target for when Ed Bramson will consider selling some of his AXC holdings?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
Will there be a company sponsored field trip to Malta for the grand opening of TVW Europe?
...digger - Silicon Investor 5/29
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