Harris Corporation and TV Azteca Announce Groundbreaking Deal For the Future of HDTV in Mexico

Harris Corporation and TV Azteca Announce Groundbreaking Deal For the Future of HDTV in Mexico

Turnkey Digital Transmission System Brings TV Azteca to the Forefront of HDTV in Latin America

LAS VEGAS, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) today announced that TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V., one of the two largest producers of Spanish language television programming in the world, has signed a purchase agreement with Harris Corporation's Broadcast Communications Division for digital television transmitters, and high-definition encoding equipment for HDTV. The equipment will bring HDTV to nine cities in Mexico and will be launched in two phases through mid-2006.

The new equipment places TV Azteca at the forefront of digital transmission capabilities in Latin America and will allow for HDTV transmission in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey by the third quarter of this year. The services are in accordance with a rollout plan detailed by TV Azteca in August 2004. Phase Two of the national rollout will bring HDTV services to six additional cities (Matamoros, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez, Mexicali and Tijuana) through the first half of 2006.

"This is another example of how TV Azteca sets technology standards to benefit viewers throughout Latin America," said Mario San Roman, CEO of TV Azteca. "This announcement also implies that our first stations will be on the air at least 15 months ahead of the digital upgrade commitments confirmed with Mexican authorities."

According to Roman Gomez, TV Azteca Director of Engineering and Technology Development, Harris was selected as the vendor of choice following a careful and thorough analysis of Harris and competitive suppliers. "The technology, air signal, reliability, price and our long-term relationship with Harris were key factors in our selection," said Gomez. "We have a 12-year track record with Harris transmitters."

The initial TV Azteca order includes six Harris DiamondCD(R) DHD8P1 transmitters operating at 1.8 kW. DiamondCD transmitters have been among the most popular transmitters employed for the U.S. digital TV rollout, with more than 300 deployed in the U.S. at power levels from 1.8 kW to 35 kW. TV Azteca can readily expand the DHD8P1 for additional power output by adding power amplifiers and power supplies. The DiamondCD DHD8P1 transmitter includes the Apex(TM) advanced digital TV exciter, with over 400 installations since its introduction in 2002.

"Harris Corporation is pleased to continue its strategic relationship with TV Azteca as it starts deployment of digital television. Harris has established a broad base of content delivery solutions from its leadership position in U.S. digital television, and we are honored to be selected to extend these market-proven solutions to Mexico as TV Azteca commences its commercial deployment of digital television," said Dale Mowry, vice president and general manager of Television Broadcast Systems for Harris Broadcast Communications.

"This project is consistent with our efforts throughout the region to guide customers to a fast and economical conversion to digital throughout their broadcast operations," said Nahuel Villegas, Harris Broadcast Communications' regional sales director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Harris' turnkey solution will allow viewers with HDTV sets to receive picture resolution six times sharper than standard definition analog sets. TV Azteca viewers without HDTV sets will continue to receive their television programming through analog transmission approaches.

About TV Azteca

TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish language television programming in the world, operating two national television networks in Mexico, Azteca 13 and Azteca 7, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. TV Azteca affiliates include Azteca America Network, a new broadcast television network focused on the rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic market, and Todito.com, an Internet portal for North American Spanish speakers.

About Harris Broadcast Communications Division

Harris Broadcast Communications Division is one of four divisions within Harris Corporation, an international communications equipment company focused on providing assured communications(TM) products, systems and services for government and commercial customers in more than 150 countries. One of the world's leading suppliers of broadcast technology, Harris Broadcast Communications Division offers a full range of solutions that support the digital delivery, automation and management of audio, video and data. For more information, visit http://www.broadcast.harris.com/ .

Source: Harris Corporation

CONTACT: Martha Rapp, Harris Broadcast Communications Division, +1-217-221-7577, or mrapp@harris.com; or Robin Hoffman, Pipeline Communications, +1-973-746-6970, or robinh@pipecomm.com, for Harris; or Daniel McCosh of TV Azteca, +011-5255-1720-0059, or dmccosh@tvazteca.com.mx

Web site: http://www.harris.com/

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