SureWest Adds TNT in HD to Its Launch of HDTV Over IP

SureWest Adds TNT in HD to Its Launch of HDTV Over IP

ROSEVILLE, Calif., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading independent telecommunications holding company SureWest Communications (NASDAQ:SURW) today announced that Turner Network Television (TNT) has been added as a core programmer in its anticipated high-definition television (HDTV) service rollout, which is set to launch this year offering 17 HDTV channels. SureWest is currently completing its beta testing as it prepares to become the first company in the United States to offer HDTV commercially over its Internet Protocol (IP)-based fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO )

"TNT in HD is a great addition to our HDTV channel lineup and serves as a differentiator for us in the Sacramento market," said Peter Drozdoff, SureWest's vice president of marketing. "IP technology increases our bandwidth capabilities and allows us to offer such an extensive HD lineup. TNT has excellent programming and is a highly-rated cable network, so I am sure our HDTV customers will be pleased with this arrangement."

TNT in HD is broadcast in 1080i 24 hours a day and uses Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound for all programming and promotional elements. In addition, TNT in HD presents all of its programming, including promotional content and commercials, in 16:9 wide-screen, giving viewers a consistent viewing experience.

TNT, television's destination for drama and one of cable's top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including Into the West, the epic six-week television event from DreamWorks Television and master storyteller and executive producer Steven Spielberg; the detective drama series The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick, and the action-packed crime series Wanted, with Gary Cole; powerful one-hour dramas, such as Law & Order, Without a Trace, Alias, Las Vegas, Cold Case, ER, NYPD Blue, Charmed and Judging Amy; broadcast premiere movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA.

To view TNT in HD, SureWest customers will need an HDTV set, a SureWest HDTV cable box and a subscription to the SureWest HD service tier.

About SureWest

With more than 90 years in Northern California, SureWest and its family of companies together provide a wide variety of highly reliable advanced communications products and services. SureWest provides digital TV, fiber optics, PCS wireless, DSL, high-speed Internet access, data transport, local and long distance telephone service, and directories with the highest standards of customer care. For more information, visit the SureWest web site at www.surewest.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, these forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as may, will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, or project or the negative of those words or other comparable words. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: advances in telecommunications technology, changes in the telecommunications regulatory environment, changes in the financial stability of other telecommunications providers who are customers of the company, changes in competition in markets in which the company operates, adverse circumstances affecting the economy in California in general, and in the Sacramento, California Metropolitan area in particular, the availability of future financing, changes in the demand for services and products, new product and service development and introductions, pending and future litigation, the internal control issues identified by the company, and unanticipated changes in the growth of the company's emerging businesses, including the wireless, Internet, video and Competitive Local Exchange Carrier operating entities.

SureWest contact: Ron Rogers

916-746-3123, r.rogers@surewest.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: SureWest Communications

CONTACT: Ron Rogers of SureWest Communications, +1-916-746-3123, or
r.rogers@surewest.com

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

-------
Profile: intent