STS' satellite uplink truck equipped with FOR-A switcher for world feed of super bowl xliii

Versatile Truck to Stay in Florida for Space Shuttle "Discovery" Launch

FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY, February 2, 2009 - When the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals tackled the gridiron at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for the 43rd Super Bowl this Sunday, Crystal Lake, IL-based Satellite Technology Systems (STS), provided the world feed for NFL Films. This Super Bowl broadcast marks the third consecutive year NFL Films has contracted STS for satellite uplink services. In addition to its sports broadcast work, STS provides transportable uplinks for live concerts, pay-per-view events, breaking news, media tours, video conferencing and disaster recovery.

Using its recently upgraded KU/HD Production Uplink Vehicle, which features FOR-A's HVS-1000HS HANABI 1 M/E HD switcher, STS' feed was made available in HD/SD simultaneously, as well as on both C and KU band satellite frequencies. The C-band antenna part of the truck was used for HD, and the KU portion of the truck was used for the SD world feed. Within the truck, TANDBERG Television encoders were used to encode the Super Bowl world feed.

The dual-band transmission capabilities ensure security for the game's far-reaching broadcast. Last years' Super Bowl was transmitted to 232 countries and territories in 34 languages and made available to an estimated one billion people. While somewhat more complicated to control, the dual-band technology provides an essential backup system should the primary system fail.

"Our truck served U.S. network affiliates, national and international broadcast entities," said STS Founder and President, Chuck Spoto. "There are many methods of receiving signals. By transmitting in every possible scenario, every one's needs were covered" Spoto said the signal sent from STS' powerhouse dual dish truck on Super Bowl Sunday could have a larger audience than the domestic transmission of the game.

The 33-foot STS truck provides robust production capabilities, an equipment inventory on par with larger mobile production vehicles, as well as uplink services creating a cost effective solution for shoots requiring up to six cameras. It boasts a roomy control room and can seat a crew of eight.

"We've gone coast-to-coast with this truck, and we know that our success can be credited in part to the HVS-1000HS and our ability to add a certain level of effects that make us stand out," added Spoto.

On February 10, STS will relocate its truck to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to provide uplink services for Nippon Television's (NTV) coverage of the next launch of the Space Shuttle "Discovery." NTV offers broadcasters and distributors programming for several dozen Japanese television stations as well as to foreign bureaus in Europe and Asia. Scheduled to lift off February 12th, "Discovery" will rocket its crew of seven on its 28th mission to the International Space Station. NASA plans to retire the Space Shuttle program after this launch.

About FOR-A
FOR-A is a major manufacturer and distributor of video and audio systems to the broadcast, postproduction and professional video markets. For more information about FOR-A's product line, call 201-944-1120 visit our web site at <http://www.for-a.com> www.for-a.com