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Technology Stocks : Ampex Corporation (AEXCA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Gus who wrote (8136)	5/5/1999 10:14:00 PM
From: Ed Perry	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 17679

Surprising that no one has yet commented on today's new hire, Ms. Carol Rudisill. If you have not seen the Yahoo news clip here's the link: biz.yahoo.com I think this may be the most important hire yet. The experience, by the measure of credentials, directly targets content and is surely an indication that the next phase, beyond siting and infrastructure, is out of the drawing board stage. From the other side, why would someone with these credentials, in today's hot web content / media market consider Ampex as an employer? In Mr. B's own words: ''Carol's thorough knowledge of web technology, animation and interactive video is the unique combination that we have been looking for." * WEB TECHNOLOGY * ANIMATION * INTERACTIVE VIDEO * This is beyond what is currently provided by TVW and AENTV. The Ampex LA production facility, of which we only know is under construction, will bring the first glimmer of what this could be about. Per Rudisill: ''Internet technology and streaming video are combining to create a powerful new medium,'' .... ''My goal is to create an online style and interactive experience that clearly establishes Ampex and its affiliates as the leaders in developing video content for this rapidly growing segment of the world wide web ..." * STYLE * INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE * => * BRANDING *** Whatever this is to be, it will most certainly push the edge of the Net envelope and will most most certainly involve Ampex / MicroNet storage / archival / post-production equipment and digital video "know how". The time frame may be a disappointment however. In this cyber space medium, posters (investors? or traders?) Expect nothing less than immediate returns. For example, from a four person company to a minority investment to an IPO in say three months (this is TVW). No chance. It will take TVW at least six months to digest its current round of ramp up. Add another 6 to 18 months after that for the combined majority investment and IPO process. From D. Gardy's comments, TVW has been active for about 3? months in site prep in Malta. His target is about Sept. 99 for full capability roll out - that's 7 months end to end for the technology to be in place. Content will certainly overlap and yet follow on. And this is from one of the most experienced organizations in the narrowcasting business. Extrapolating, and allowing for the innovations which the LA site may bring, I would expect next winter as a reasonable time frame for a prototype of equipment and content of what could be possible from the production / streaming side. Given that the broadband facilities issues will be well under consolidation, standardization and resolution in the same time frame — if AT&T is to be the 700 lb. gorilla then there is no problem, I would expect year 2000 as the time frame when mass customer delivery could begin to be accomplished. Instead of an IPO, possibly a "higher" affiliation with parent Ampex and the likes of an AT&T AOL, MSFT, CBS or even a Vulcan for funds which may be needed in the next year. If the technology and the content is a knockout, these organizations will provide a much more reliable and much less distracting source of funds. The link to my recent summary of Ed Bramson's letter: Message 9160561 I conclude here on the same note: If one looks at revenue streams and equipment sales, then he misses the point entirely. If one focuses on AENTV and TVW and even on their "impending" IPO's, then he is only seeing the metaphor of what the Ampex is about. Only if one accesses the emerging Ampex "video production and distribution center[s]", their products, services, brand basis and management organization, will one get a view of what the Ampex vision may come to be. Ed Perry