The annual frenzy of the NCAA basketball tournament is just around the corner. The men’s and women’s brackets are shaping up as teams finish out their seasons and we head toward Selection Sunday on March 17, 2024. As always, there should be plenty of excitement during this year’s March Madness.
In 2024, fans will have more options for watching the big tournament than ever before. Whether you’re a casual fan or cheering on your alma mater, read on to find out how to watch every tip-off from wherever you are.
Where to watch March Madness
March Madness will air on several channels this season. The men’s tournament will be on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. The women’s tournament will be available on ESPN’s networks and ABC.
| DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | Max | Paramount Plus | ESPN Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| TNT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| truTV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| CBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| ABC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ |
How to watch March Madness on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM offers four plans. The Entertainment plan costs $79.99 per month and includes over 75 channels; the Choice plan costs $108.99 per month and includes over 105 channels; the Ultimate plan costs $119.99 per month and includes over 140 channels; and the Premier plan costs $164.99 per month and includes over 150 channels.
For the price, DIRECTV STREAM includes a wide variety of national and regional sports channels. Everything you need for March Madness is available in the Entertainment plan. However, if you want more sports, you may need to upgrade to the Choice plan or higher. You can enjoy a free trial of any DIRECTV STREAM plan before you commit.
How to watch March Madness on Fubo
Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers three main plans. The Pro plan costs $79.99 per month and includes over 180 channels; the Elite plan costs $89.99 per month and includes over 250 channels; and the Premier plan costs $99.99 per month and includes over 260 channels. All plans also include a regional sports fee of up to $14.99 per month.
For March Madness, Fubo is a great option if you’re interested in watching the women’s tournament from start to finish. ESPN is included in all of FuboTV’s main plans, as well as ABC. While Fubo doesn’t have all the channels you need for the men’s tournament, you’ll be able to watch the championship on CBS. Check out any Fubo plan for yourself with a free trial.
How to watch March Madness on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is one of the best values in streaming, offering access to premium on-demand content and more than 90 live TV channels in one package. Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month and includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus subscriptions at no extra cost. You can also get Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV for $89.99 per month. And if you’re not interested in Hulu’s on-demand library or Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, you can get Live TV Only for $75.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV’s channel lineup includes everything you need to catch both March Madness tournaments this year. Plus, Hulu goes the extra mile for sports fans, making it easy to see which games are currently live or record all of a team’s upcoming games in one click. Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can cancel at any time.
How to watch March Madness on Sling TV
Sling TV offers its users three customizable, budget-friendly plan options. You can subscribe to Sling Orange for $40 per month and get 32 channels, or choose Sling Blue for $40 per month and get 42 channels. Or, you can get all of Sling TV’s channels for $55 per month with a Sling Orange & Blue plan.
When it comes to March Madness, Sling TV is a solid option. You’ll be able to catch a majority of the men’s tournament on TBS and TNT with any of the three plans. Fans of women’s basketball may want to subscribe to Sling Orange or Sling Orange & Blue, which both offer ESPN. Make sure to add on Paramount Plus for Sling TV’s virtual bundle and catch every tip-off and final buzzer of the entire tournament.
How to watch March Madness on YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a straightforward streaming service that gives customers a solid product at a great value. The base plan costs $72.99 per month and includes over 110 of the most popular news, sports, and entertainment channels available.
Watching March Madness is easy with YouTube TV, as the streaming service includes all the channels you need to catch both the men’s and women’s tournaments. It’s the most affordable streaming plan that offers all the channels for both tournaments. Plus, you can score a free trial before you decide to commit.
How to watch March Madness on Max
Max is the newest addition to the sports streaming pantheon, and it’s a great option for college basketball fans who want to watch the men’s tournament on a budget. The B/R Sports Add-On features live action from TBS, TNT, and truTV, including March Madness.
With access to the best in Turner Sports, Max also brings you games from the NHL, MLB, NBA, and U.S. Soccer. The B/R Sports Add-On is currently free for all Max subscribers, but it will cost an extra $9.99 a month after the trial period ends.
How to watch March Madness on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is not only the home to blockbuster movies, but for under $12 per month, you can also catch live sports on CBS and CBS Sports Network. To watch any men’s March Madness games featured on CBS, you’ll need to opt for the Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME plan for $11.99 per month.
The premium plan also gives you ad-free on-demand viewing, along with some of the best in SHOWTIME programming. All plans include additional live sports such as UEFA Champion’s League, The Masters, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and more. To give Paramount Plus a shot, you can sign up for a free trial.
How to watch March Madness on ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus streams thousands of live sports events each year and is available on its own, in the Disney Bundle, or with Hulu + Live TV. By itself, ESPN Plus costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year. The Disney Bundle Trio Basic, which includes ESPN Plus, Hulu, and Disney Plus, starts at $14.99 a month.
During March Madness, you’ll be able to tune into a handful of women’s games as well as exclusive commentary. ESPN Plus subscribers may also have access to game replays, so you can watch your alma mater’s win a decade from now. Just keep in mind that you’ll need an additional live TV streaming subscription to watch other ESPN channels like ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU.
March Madness schedule 2024
The official schedule for March Madness 2024 won’t be available until after the First Four games end on March 21. Check NCAA.com for updates and view the live bracket here.
FAQ
How can I stream March Madness games?
Some March Madness games will air on broadcast TV — CBS for men’s games and ABC for women’s games. For the others, you’ll need a subscription to a cable or satellite service or a live TV streaming platform. Streaming services are our preferred choice, as you can watch from anywhere without a long-term contract.
Does Hulu have March Madness?
You can watch men’s and women’s March Madness on Hulu + Live TV, which features every channel showing both tournaments. Hulu + Live TV subscriptions start at $76.99 a month.
Is March Madness on Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus will air every March Madness game that’s showing on CBS. To access these games, you’ll need to subscribe to the top-tier plan, Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME.
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