As Penn State pummeled Florida International University in Saturday's football game, many off-campus students without tickets were unable to watch the action from the comfort of their own apartments.
Comcast, the cable provider for most off-campus student housing, is still in negotiations with the Big Ten Network and Fox Cable Networks. Because an agreement has not been reached, students living in select apartment buildings were unable to watch the game in their apartments.
Those over 21 years old and without football tickets packed bars showing the game on DIRECTV, such as Sports Café and Grill, 244 W. College Ave.
"We were busier than we expected," said Joe Nastasi, general manager of Sports Café and Grill. "It worked well. You're always going to get the interest when we're showing something other places aren't."
However, students too young for bars found limited viewing options without returning to campus.
Brittany Peterson (sophomore-film and video) said she was surprised when she discovered she didn't have the channel.
"I'm pretty angry," Peterson said. "It's a bummer you can't tune in via television. I wouldn't walk all the way to a campus lounge to just sit there and watch it. I'd rather be there and experience it live or be able to chill in my apartment with my friends. I guess I just won't see it."
Patrons at certain bars weren't able to watch the game either. Maya Budda, employee at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., lamented the lack of crowds during the game.
"We're not showing it either, so it was not a good turnout," Budda said. "We had it on the radio, but unfortunately it wasn't enough for [fans]."
However, Budda was optimistic for future games.
"There are only two games that aren't broadcast over Comcast, so for the rest of the season, we should be okay," she said.
The game was not on Comcast because the company is still negotiating with the Big Ten Network, Comcast spokesman Jeff Alexander said.
"We do not have an agreement at this time," Alexander said. "I know you have a high concentration of students and fans, and we are sensitive to that."
However, Alexander said Comcast has 735,000 customers in the area -- the majority of which are not Penn State fans.
He added that if Comcast aired the Big Ten Network, all customers would be charged an additional $13 per year.
"You might imagine that people are sensitive for paying for programming they're not interested in," he said.
However, Alexander said Comcast is trying to find a compromise in which customers could choose whether or not to pay for the programming.
"We understand that there is passion for Penn State sports and to see these games and we intend to have an option for those fans in the future," he said. "At the end of the day, we want our fans to be able to choose."
As far as when such a decision might be reached, Alexander was unsure.
"We are hopeful and we will continue to remain in talks and good faith," he said. "It takes two sides."
Until the cable issue is resolved, though, some off-campus students still remain out of luck for the Sept. 15 game against University at Buffalo and at least one conference match-up, according to a Penn State press release.
"I guess my only option is to start trying to buy [tickets] off of Facebook," Peterson said.
But no student has to worry about Saturday's game against Notre Dame. Comcast subscribers can watch the game with everyone else beginning at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
