Comcast is letting college students watch cable on their computers

As part of a new Comcast initiative, Drexel students can now watch cable TV on their computers, tablets and smartphones for free, according to a release. The Netflix-like service will be available at five East Coast colleges this fall and is only for students who live on campus. It’s included in room and board.

The service, called “Xfinity on Campus,” builds on existing agreements that universities have with Comcast to provide TV on campus, spokewoman Jennifer Bilotta wrote in an email. When asked if colleges were paying extra for the service, Bilotta declined to comment. Students can get access to premium channels like HBO for a fee.

The new program is a move to make Comcast more relevant to the younger set, who have been ditching TV for Netflix and other Internet streaming options.

“With this younger generation, more and more viewing is happening away from the traditional TV set and we have evolved our products and services to better engage them,” Marcien Jenckes, Executive Vice President of Consumer Services for Comcast Cable, said in a statement.