SureWest Communications will reach 25,000 additional Sacramento-area homes with video service by second-quarter 2010 with a software platform that delivers television service over its existing networks.

Known as Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol TV, the service is expected to be available to new customers by the end of the year. Combined with other recent advances in technologies, SureWest will be able to offer enhanced video services to 15,000 additional homes with video services by December, and another 10,000 by second-quarter 2010.

Mediaroom has advanced features such as:

• Whole Home Digital Video Recorder for watching recorded shows on any TV in the house.

• The ability to watch and record up to four channels at one time.

“We are pleased that SureWest has selected Microsoft Mediaroom as the software platform to enable its advanced TV service for customers in the Sacramento market,” said Andreas Mueller-Schubert, general manager for the TV, video and music platforms business at Microsoft.