Entering its fourth season of television coverage, the Big Ten Network has made a huge impact on not only the conference, but the college football landscape in general. Blue White Illustrated caught up with BTN president Mark Silverman in Chicago last week to talk about the one missing link in complete coverage for Penn State fans.

COLUMBUS, OH and UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - The Penn State and Ohio State Directors of Athletics and Big Ten Network President will be attending an event in Youngstown, Ohio, for area residents who do not receive the network.

Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley, Ohio State Director of Athletics Gene Smith and Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman will be at the luncheon reception at Cassese's MVR, 410 N. Walnut Street in Youngstown, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18.

They will be available to meet with the media at 11:30 a.m. and then visit with followers of the Nittany Lions, Buckeyes and other schools who are interested in options to be able to receive the Big Ten Network in time for the fall sports season. All Penn State, Ohio State, and Big Ten sports fans are welcome to attend the event.

Representatives from DIRECTV also will be at the event to provide information and answer questions about its new, discounted offer that includes Big Ten Network and its more than 500 televised and streamed events in 2010-11, as well as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™.

The Ohio State football team begins its season on Sept. 2 vs. Marshall and the game will air on Big Ten Network On Sept. 4, Penn State hosts Youngstown State to open the season and the network will televise the game. The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions also will play at least one, if not multiple, conference games on Big Ten Network this season. Four Penn State football games aired on the network in 2009, as well as the 2010 Blue-White Game.

The Big Ten Network is entering its fourth year on the air. The network is available on 300 providers, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse.

One company absent from the lineup, however, is Armstrong Cable. Armstrong is the largest cable provider within the eight Big Ten states that does not carry the Big Ten Network. Nearly 18,000 Penn State alumni and fans live in communities where Armstrong is the cable provider and they will not be able to watch more than 100 Penn State athletic events on the Big Ten Network for the second consecutive year unless Armstrong Cable launches the network.

Penn State alumni and fans planning to attend the Aug. 18 event should RSVP to Sam Bernstine at: SBernstine@kepner-tregoe.com

Ohio State alumni and fans planning to attend the lunch event should RSVP to Bob Snyder at: buckeyergs@aol.com.

Alumni and fans of other schools who are Armstrong Customers, are interested in receiving Big Ten Network and would like to attend the event should RSVP to Aaron Seidlitz at: aaron.seidlitz@bigtennetwork.com.

The Big Ten Network is available to more than 75 million homes in the U.S. and Canada.