Oklahoma State football: Cowboys' bowl game will be televised on ESPNU

STILLWATER, Dec 22, 2012 (The Oklahoman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- On the day Oklahoma State played at Arizona, Cowboy fans rushed to find places with the DISH Network, the only provider in the state to carry the game that aired on the Pac-12 Network.

Trying to find the Heart of Dallas Bowl on television likely won't be quite the fiasco. But it still might not be as easy as some think.

The Cowboys' matchup against Purdue at 11 a.m. on New Year's Day will air on ESPNU, a channel not available on the most basic packages from any major cable or satellite provider in Oklahoma.

On Cox, the most popular provider in the state, ESPNU is not part of the starter and essential package, as well as certain advanced packages. To get the channel, a customer with those packages must add the sports and information pak for $8.95 per month. The service can be canceled at any time.

ESPNU is available, however, on most advanced packages, Cox director of product management Bruce Berkinshaw said.

"In fact, well more than the majority of our customers -- the super majority -- have that package already," he said. "Someone that is pretty much a sports fan that wants to watch Oklahoma State sports, they probably already have it right now." Additionally, Cox is the only provider in Oklahoma that has launched the Watch ESPN app for Apple and Android mobile devices. That allows customers to live stream events on ESPN channels, including ESPNU.

For Suddenlink, a major cable provider in Stillwater, ESPNU is not part of the standard digital 200 lineup. The sports and information package must be added, which is $11 per month. The package can be canceled at any time, and the cost will be pro-rated based on the number of days it was used.

Do you have ESPNU Oklahoma State's matchup with Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl will air on ESPNU, a channel that does not come with any basic package from any major cable or satellite providers in Oklahoma.

Cox Not available on starter, essential and select advanced packages Available on several advanced packages $8.95/month to add sports and info pak Channel 253/718 HD AT&T/U-verse Not available on U-Family package Available on U200, U300 and U450 packages $15/month to upgrade from U-Family to U200 package Channel 605/1605 HD Suddenlink Not available on 200 digital package $11/month to add sports and information package Channel 503/553 HD DirecTV Not available on 140 Entertainment package Available on Choice, Choice Xtra, Choice Ultimate and Premier packages $5/month to upgrade from Entertainment to Choice package Channel 208/208 HD DISH Network Not available on Smart Pack Available on America's Top 120, America's Top 120 Plus, America's Top 200, America's 250 and America's "Everything" Paks $5/month to upgrade from Smart to America's Top 120 Pak Channel 141/No HD COMPILED BY GINA MIZELL On AT&T/U-verse, a relatively new provider in Stillwater and beyond, ESPNU is not included on the U-Family package, but is part of on every other package, starting with the U200 lineup. The difference in price between the U-Family and U200 package is $15 per month.

ESPNU is not available on DirecTV's 140-channel Entertainment package, but is included in on every other package, starting with Choice. The difference in price between the Entertainment package and Choice package is $5 per month.

On DISH Network, ESPNU is not part of the most basic Starter pak, but is available on every other package, starting with America's Best 120. The difference in price between the Starter and America's Best 120 paks is $5/month.

Berkinshaw said Cox hasn't seen a noticeable increase in local customers inquiring about the Heart of Dallas Bowl and if they have ESPNU with their cable package. But he expects more will come as the game gets closer.

The best advice to Cowboy fans Plan ahead. Check that channel package now.

That way, there won't be any scrambling on the morning of New Year's Day to find ESPNU.

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