FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SHARAGA STUDIOS SWITCHES TO JVC D-9 FOR CREATIVE EDGE JVC Technical Support Wins Raves From Wedding and Event Videographer Wayne, NJ (January 14, 2000) -- JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY has announced that Sharaga Studios, a wedding and event videography studio in Tarzana California has selected JVC's D-9 based on the formats' strength and JVC's' superb technical capabilities. Sharaga Studios, which provides photography and video services for weddings and corporate clients, chose JVC's BR-D750 D-9 editing recorder for its 4:2:2 sampling and mild 3.3:1 compression which results in superior picture quality. The decision to upgrade to D-9 was made easier by the BR-D750's low sticker price of just $7,995. Better pictures and the ability to generate artifact-free multiple generate dubs that looked as good as the original master are just a few of the benefits Sharaga Studios enjoys. Over the past five years, Sharaga Studios has systematically moved to JVC products for both acquisition and editing. The company has now purchased two BR-D750 D-9 editing recorders digital editing, to go with its JVC GY-X2B full-size 3-CCD integrated S-VHS camcorders, BR-S525DX variable tracking edit feeder/player and BR-S822DX editing master recorder. Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Sharaga cited JVC's 24-hour technical service as a crucial reason for the purchase of more JVC equipment, saying, "My original reason for switching to JVC cameras was their superior quality and features. Then, the first time I needed service on my first JVC camera, I experienced something I had never seen in 10 years of owning professional video equipment from other manufacturers. With other vendors I never had less than a one-month turnaround, which can be devastating to a small company with no backup units. The average six- to 12-week downtime for maintenance almost put us out of business on more than one occasion. When I found out that JVC's longest wait was less than two weeks, I was flabbergasted," he reports. "Certain emergencies can be taken care of even faster." Sharaga experienced such good results with service on his JVC camcorders that when it came time to invest in new digital VTRs he again selected JVC equipment. "I felt purchasing D-9 machines from JVC would not only give me high-quality editing decks but also much better turnaround when they required service. All of my decks are being used all the time; I can't afford downtime." Sharaga recalls renting replacement decks when his VTRs from another manufacturer were taking an especially long time to service. "When we added up our rental costs, we could have paid for a new machine," he says. Sharaga has high praise for Charles McGee and John Belizzi at JVC's regional service center in Cypress, California. "They were courteous, friendly and attentive right away, and I can't imagine them treating anybody else any differently. At other manufacturers, if I didn't have their top-of-the-line $50,000- $100,000 cameras or VTRs, I was made to feel like someone with a consumer product, and it could take weeks just to get a repair estimate." Sharaga emphasizes that his JVC VTRs "work well 99.9 percent of the time and the only regular servicing they get is head cleaning." Still, knowing that rapid, competent tech support is available from JVC tipped the scale in his purchasing decisions. "I decided that if JVC products are as good as or better than other manufacturers' equipment I'm looking at, I'll stay with JVC forever." He adds that his JVC camcorders and D-9 editing decks enable him to provide a superior quality product over his competition in the wedding videography business. "They've put me on top in terms of the creativity and quality we can provide to clients," Sharaga reports. Sharaga Studios credits JVC as a partner in its growth, saying JVC's affordable and high-quality D-9 format, backed up with its knock- out technical support team is helping to expand Sharaga's event videography practice as well as its corporate portfolio. JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY is based in Wayne, New Jersey, and distributes a complete line of broadcasting and professional equipment including cameras, recorders, monitors, projectors and editing products. For more information about JVC products or service, please contact David Walton at 1-800-JVC-5825 or visit the corporate website at www.jvc.com/pro. ###