Watch All of March Madness for Just $23
From tipoff of the First Four until Luther Vandross sings “One Shining Moment,” the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament is a thrill ride unlike any other. And thanks to the power of streaming TV, you can watch every game in the tourney for just $23. Here’s how to lock in your lineup.
Get Max for TruTV, TNT, and TBS Games
In the early rounds truTV, TNT, and TBS are must-have options. If you want a TV provider with all of those channels, your cheapest option is Hulu + Live TV for $82.99/month. But thankfully, Max gives you access to all of the games appearing on those channels for just $9.99. You can sign up here.
$9.99/mo.
Get Paramount+ with Showtime for CBS Games
Of course, CBS is home to the most important games of the tournament. You can watch your live, local CBS affiliate free if you choose Paramount+ with Showtime. That package costs $12.99/month, but you can get your first 7 days free.
$12.99/mo.
What NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Games Are on Which Channels?
The First Four appears on truTV, starting with St. Francis PA against Alabama St. on Tuesday, March 18. If you have Max, you’ll see the entire First Four.
Tuesday, March 18 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)
| Matchup/Time (EST) | Channel |
|---|---|
| (16) Alabama State vs. (16) Saint Francis, 6:40 p.m. | truTV |
| (11) San Diego State vs. (11) North Carolina, 9:10 p.m. | truTV |
Wednesday, March 19 (First Four in Dayton, Ohio)
| Matchup/Time (EST) | Channel |
|---|---|
| (16) American University vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s, 6:40 p.m | truTV |
| (11) Texas vs. (11) Xavier, 9:10 p.m. | truTV | truTV |
After the First Four, the games spread out. Just add Paramount+ with Showtime to your lineup and you’ll get all those CBS games.
Thursday, March 20 (First Round/Round of 64)
| Matchup/Time (EST) | Channel |
|---|---|
| (8) Louisville vs. (9) Creighton, 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| (4) Purdue vs. (13) High Point, 12:40 p.m. | truTV |
| (3) Wisconsin vs. (14) Montana, 1:30 p.m. | TNT |
| (1) Houston vs. (16) SIU Edwardsville, 2 p.m. | TBS |
| (1) Auburn vs. (16) Saint Francis/Alabama St., 2:50 p.m. | CBS |
| (5) Clemson vs. (12) McNeese, 3:15 p.m. | truTV |
| (6) BYU vs. (11) VCU, 4:05 p.m. | TNT |
| (8) Gonzaga vs. (9) Georgia, 4:35 p.m. | TBS |
| (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Wofford, 6:50 p.m. | TNT |
| (7) Kansas vs. (10) Arkansas, 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| (4) Texas A&M vs. (13) Yale, 7:25 p.m. | TBS |
| (6) Missouri vs. (11) Drake, 7:35 p.m. | truTV |
| (7) UCLA vs. (10) Utah State, 9:25 p.m. | TNT |
| (2) St. John’s vs. (15) Omaha, 9:45 p.m. | CBS |
| (5) Michigan vs. (12) UC San Diego, 10 p.m. | TBS |
| (3) Texas Tech vs. (14) UNC Wilmington, 10:10 p.m. | truTV |
Friday, March 21 (First Round/Round of 64)
| Matchup/Time (EST) | Channel |
|---|---|
| (8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Baylor, 12:15 p.m. | CBS |
| (2) Alabama vs. (15) Robert Morris, 12:40 p.m. | truTV |
| (3) Iowa State vs. (14) Lipscomb, 1:30 p.m. | TNT |
| (5) Memphis vs. (12) Colorado State, 2 p.m. | TBS |
| (1) Duke vs. (16) Mount St. Mary’s/American, 2:50 p.m. | CBS |
| (7) Saint Mary’s vs. (10) Vanderbilt, 3:15 p.m. | truTV |
| (6) Ole Miss vs. (11) North Carolina/San Diego State, 4:05 p.m. | TNT |
| (4) Maryland vs. (13) Grand Canyon, 4:35 p.m. | TBS |
| (1) Florida vs. (16) Norfolk State, 6:50 p.m. | TNT |
| (3) Kentucky vs. (14) Troy, 7:10 p.m. | CBS |
| (7) Marquette vs. (10) New Mexico, 7:25 p.m. | TBS |
| (4) Arizona vs. (13) Akron, 7:35 p.m. | truTV |
| (8) UConn vs. (9) Oklahoma, 9:25 p.m. | TNT |
| (6) Illinois vs. (11) Xavier/Texas, 9:45 p.m. | TNT |
| (2) Michigan State vs. (15) Bryant, 10 p.m. | TBS |
| (5) Oregon vs. (12) Liberty, 10:10 p.m. | truTV |
The broadcast schedules for the future games haven’t been set, but they’ll all appear on the channels we listed. The second round is March 22-23, the Sweet 16 is March 27-28, the Elite 8 is March 29-30, the Final Four is April 5 and the NCAA Championship Game will be on CBS April 7.
What Else Can you Watch with Max and Paramount+ with Showtime?
When you’re not watching hoops, these two great streamers give you a ton of entertainment.
On Max, check out great sports documentaries and series like “Celtics City,” “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” “We Beat the Dream Team,” “Shaq,” “What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali,” “Hoop Dreams,” “When We Were Kings,” “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals,” “38 at the Garden,” and “Kareem: Minority of One.”
On Paramount+ with Showtime, check out “Headliners with Rachel Nichols,” “Shut Up and Dribble,” “Pelé: Birth of a Legend,” and “Kevin Garnett: Anything is Possible.”
Beyond sports, you have two great movie and TV libraries packed with classic sitcoms and groundbreaking dramas. There’s a good chance you might stay subscribed long after the nets are cut down.
What Other Options Do You Have to Watch the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament?
Hulu + Live TV gives you CBS, TNT, truTV, and TBS. Plans start at $82.99 and you’ll get free Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu on-demand. It’s a great package. Get started free for 3 days.
DIRECTV STREAM also gives you CBS, TNT, truTV, and TBS if you start with the Choice package ($114.99/month). You can get 5 days free.
YouTube TV provides all the necessary channels starting at $82.99/month, but you don’t get the added free streamers Hulu provides for the same price.
Sling TV does not carry CBS. You can get TNT, truTV, and TBS with the Sling Blue plan, which is just $23 for your first month.
Fubo carries CBS, but none of the other channels.
Philo and Frndly TV do not carry any of the necessary channels.
If you’d like to watch your local CBS station for free, Streaming Smarter always recommends an antenna as part of your cord-cutting lineup. That doesn’t help you with the other channels, however.
If you sign up for a Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, or YouTube TV plan to access all the channels you need, you can also download the March Madness Live app and log in with your credentials. That will allow you on-the-go access to every game.
Good luck on your brackets and watch out for those upsets!
