Week 1 of the 2024 College Football season begins tomorrow and Comcast Xfinitiy subscribers who want to watch four former Pac-12 schools are subject to a Big Ten Network blackout on the West Coast and in markets that don’t have existing Big Ten schools.
With BTN and Comcast Xfinity in an ongoing carriage dispute (more details here), that could mean subscribers could miss the Big Ten debut of Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA.
If you’re a Comcast Xfinity subscriber or searching for where to stream any of the four teams, our guides have you covered:
How to Watch the Former Pac-12 Teams Live in 2024
If you’re searching for how to cancel Comcast and Xfinity and find the right streaming service to watch all of your favorites, then look no further. Below, you can find out how to watch the Big Ten Network without cable.
How to Watch the Big Ten Network Live Without Cable in 2024
The Big Ten Network can be found on many major live TV streaming platforms. Enjoy the flexibility of no long-term memberships, bulky equipment, hidden fees, the ability to stream on the go, and more.
With Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or any other compatible device, you can watch live college football with a subscription to DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV. Also, you can watch replays and non-live events on B1G+.
How to Watch the Big Ten Network for Free
New subscribers looking to make the jump into streaming can take advantage of trials to watch live college football for free on the Big Ten Network. DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV each offer a free trial so you can test them out to make sure they’re the right fit for you.
You can find out more about each streaming service that carries the Big Ten Network, below.
How to watch the Big Ten Network on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM offers the Big Ten Network in the DIRECTV STREAM Sports Pack add-on and in the Choice plan. Right now, new subscribers can save $90 or more during their first three months when they sign up for a limited time.
For $15 per month, the DIRECTV Sports Pack add-on can be added to any DIRECTV STREAM plan. The add-on includes over 20 live sports channels from Big Ten Network, ACC Network, SEC Network, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, NHL Network, and more.
The Sports Pack is the perfect add-on to the Entertainment plan. For $79.99 per month, the Entertainment plan is stacked with over 90 of the top entertainment, news, sports, lifestyle networks, and more. Sign up today and get the Entertainment plan for $49.99 per month for the first three months.
Upgrade to the Choice plan for $108.99 per month, which has over 125 channels, including the Big Ten Network, and other major sports networks found in the Sports Pack and several Regional Sports Networks. Get one of the best deals of the year when you sign up for the Choice plan for only $69.99 per month for the first three months.
Each plan offers unlimited cloud DVR storage to record your favorite shows and the biggest moments of the season. Plus, you can stream on unlimited devices on your home network and 3 devices on the go.
New subscribers can take advantage of a 5-day free trial before subscribing.
How to watch the Big Ten Network on Fubo
If you’re a sports fan, Fubo is a viable option for watching Big Ten competition live. Fubo is a sports-focused streaming service. So although you get a diverse range of channels, many of them focus on live sports from national and international events. And you get more than 190 channels including live sports on Big Ten Network, CBS, NBC, FOX, FS1, CBS Sports Network, and any out-of-conference games on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, SEC Network, ACC Network for $79.99 per month with the Pro plan.
With Fubo, subscribers can watch up to 10 screens at once and record their favorite shows, movies, and more with up to unlimited hours of DVR. Plus, the streamer offers live content and shows and movies on demand.
If you like what Fubo offers, sign up to enjoy the service for free during your trial period at the following link:
How to watch the Big Ten Network on Sling TV
For Big Ten sports fans who need something that’s more affordable than other streaming services, Sling TV makes the most sense. The service offers plans for as low as $40 per month (Sling Orange and Sling Blue), which makes it almost twice as affordable as the other streaming options.
The Big Ten Network can be found in the Sports Extra add-on for an additional $11 per month. You get access to the SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, and much more when you add it to one of the following base plans:
The Sling Orange plan gives you access to 30+ channels, including ESPN, ESPN2. Sling Blue plan comes with 40+ channels, including FS1, and ABC, NBC, and Fox are available in select markets. To get the best of both, you need the Sling Orange & Blue plan starting at $55 per month.
With Sling, subscribers can record their favorites with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and the ability to stream on up to four devices depending on the plan.
Also, Sling offers a Season Pass for additional savings and new subscribers can get half off their first month at the following link:
How to watch the Big Ten Network on Hulu + Live TV
For those who love the hit originals from Hulu, a Hulu + Live TV subscription is an ideal way to stream Big Ten sports. This includes 95+ live channels in addition to The Disney Bundle which has 10,000+ on-demand titles from Hulu’s streaming library, tons of shows and movies from Disney+, and thousands of hours of live sports on ESPN+. And you get all of this for $76.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV packs a powerful punch for fans of the Big Ten. The streamer includes Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, FS1, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, and ACC Network in addition to popular news and entertainment networks.
New subscribers can try Hulu + Live TV for free for three days at the following link:
How to watch the Big Ten Network on YouTube TV
For those who need a comprehensive streaming solution that features the Big Ten Network, you can also go for YouTube TV. The service gives you a diverse mix of live TV channels with 100+ options for $72.99 per month. Not only this, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage by default with the service. And you can keep your recordings for up to 9 months.
The channel lineup includes live Big Ten sports on local NBC, CBS, FOX, and ABC affiliates and nationally televised games on Big Ten Network, FS1, CBS Sports Network, or any out-of-conference games on ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Network, and SEC Network. Plus, you can watch thousands of shows and movies on-demand.
With YouTube TV, the free trial varies, and new subscribers can save $80 by getting their first four months for $52.99 per month for a limited time at the following link:
What We Know About the Comcast Xfinity Big Ten Dispute
Many Comcast Xfinity viewers aren’t able to watch four former Pac-12 schools compete on the Big Ten Network due to a blackout. Fox, who is part owner of the network, along with the Big Ten Conference, are attempting to resolve the issue, with Comcast Xfinity putting out the following statement:
“We’re sensitive to the impact these costs have on our customers and have been in discussions with Fox and the Big Ten Network to find a solution to make certain former Pac-12 games available to the people who want them while not forcing others to pay for content they don’t want to watch. We hope to be able to reach a fair agreement with Fox and the Big Ten Network to be able to offer these games to our customers,” a Comcast representative said.
Other Fox networks such as its broadcasting network, FS1, FS2, and others do not seem to be affected by the blackout at this time.
A Big Ten spokesperson issued the following statement:
“The Big Ten Network is proud to present an expanded slate of live sporting events featuring the newest members of the B1G conference, however most Comcast subscribers will not see these games. As the one distribution partner that declined to expand along with us, Comcast Xfinity viewers in many areas will not have access to live broadcasts of the highly anticipated inaugural B1G season games for Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington. If you are an Xfinity subscriber and cannot find the Ducks, Huskies, Bruins or Trojans on the Big Ten Network in your area, please contact 1-800-Comcast or go to ALLBTNGAMES.com.”
When you visit allbtngames.com, it has a zip code finder that lets you know if you’re missing any Big Ten sporting events and a message that reads:
“Comcast Xfinity is the only pay TV provider that declined to accept the Big Ten Network territory expansion offer, therefore Comcast Xfinity viewers in many areas will not have access to live broadcasts of the highly anticipated inaugural B1G season games for Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington on Big Ten Network.”
On the site, you can enter your email to stay informed on the situation and call Xfinity for more information.
Carriage disputes are common, and for now, West Coast subscribers can watch the other 14 B1G teams on the service. The more upset subscribers make their voices heard, the more likely the games are to return. Until all parties can reach an agreement, you can cancel Xfinity and switch to a live TV streaming platform to watch your favorite team’s season opener.