SureWest Launches Microsoft Mediaroom 2.0
SureWest Communications is using Microsoft Mediaroom 2.0 for its Advanced Digital TV video product in the Sacramento region. In addition to managing and watching recorded programs on every TV in the home, SureWest Advanced Digital TV customers can now pause, rewind and fast-forward live programs on all of their receivers, including non-DVRs.
The new update is immediately available and consists of a middleware upgrade from Mediaroom 1.6 to 2.0, which not only adds the ability to control live TV from every set-top box, but is the platform required for future product enhancements. These will include enhanced picture-in-picture functionality and SureWest Multi-View, which will allow customers to watch four channels at once on the TV screen. Both are scheduled to launch this summer.
Additionally, SureWest is in the final stages of releasing a new Whole Home DVR with double the storage space, while adding over 20 new channels to its lineup, more On Demand content and extra online video content.
At the beginning of 2011, SureWest had 167,000 Advanced Digital TV capable homes, and is making the product available to nearly 7,000 new homes this year. In just two weeks, SureWest completed sales to 10 percent of the first 1,500 new Advanced Digital TV homes released in late April.