A significant number of Penn State football fans who have cable television service will not be able to watch the Nittany Lions in the Jan. 2 TicketCity Bowl game, which is being broadcast on ESPNU.
David Dane, senior vice president and general manager for Atlantic Broadband, said ESPNU is only available to customers who have the cable system's 104-channel digital plus package.
Atlantic Broadband has about 27,000 residential customers in both the Altoona and Johnstown areas.
As for Comcast customers, only those with the sports and entertainment package get ESPNU, according to Bob Grove, Comcast spokesman.
However, Comcast is offering a special deal to customers if they would like to add that package so they will be able to watch the Penn State game.
"If you are a Comcast digital customer with at least the digital starter level of service you can get the 20-channel Sports and Entertainment Package for 99 cents per month for three months. If you keep it for the fourth month, it goes up to $7.95 per month," Grove said.
Comcast provides cable service in Tyrone and Williamsburg boroughs and Catharine, Snyder and Woodbury townships in Blair County; the Philipsburg area in Centre County; and virtually all of eastern and central Huntingdon County.
Grove said the offer has been available to customers since before Thanksgiving and expires Dec. 31. He said it has nothing to do with Penn State's appearance in the TicketCity Bowl.
Dane said Atlantic Broadband is not offering any specials in conjunction with the bowl game.
"We have special promotions running from time to time but no one has called about the bowl game," Dane said. "About 40 percent of our customers have digital equipment in their homes, which allows them access to the digital tier."
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.
