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How to Watch March Madness: Stream Every Game Live Without Cable
Stream every game of the NCAA Tournament, no cable required. Here's how to watch March Madness.
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March Madness
NCAAForget about Punxsutawney Phil. The one true sign that the winds of winter will cease to blow and the long-awaited dream of spring will soon become reality is the NCAA's March Madness basketball tournament — and that's kicking off March 18.
All across the nation, sports fans and non-sports fans alike prepare their brackets, determined to win their March Madness pools via sharp basketball analysis, or just plain dumb luck. In this tournament, every game matters. And luckily for everyone partaking in this year's insanity, every game of men's Division 1 play will be broadcast on cable TV, a streaming service, or both. Although we can't offer any speculative March Madness predictions, we can lay out all the info you need to know about where, when, and how to watch March Madness this year.
Let the madness begin.
Winning March Madness is more than just a one-off accomplishment. Schools build mighty reputations with their success in the tournament, recruiting the best players in the country year after year. Just think of all the legendary coaches and players who have suited up for Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina, Duke, and Indiana over the years. This tournament isn't just a detour on the way to the NBA, it's a destination unto itself.
This year, a crop of both legacy teams and relative newcomers are said to have the best odds to win it all. The Auburn Tigers, who have only gotten as far as a Final Four appearance in 2019, threaten to capture their first national title. The Duke Blue Devils, perennial contenders, are looking to add a 6th championship to their record books, which would make them tied for the third most national titles in NCAA history. The two-time title-holding Florida Gators hope to unseat their competitors, while the Houston Cougars are also in pursuit of their first-ever title.
As happens every year, there are sure to be shocking upsets and head-spinning surprises in this single-elimination tournament where just one game can cause either a crushing disappointment or historic victory. Just think of when the No. 8 seed Villanova beat Georgetown in 1985, an astonishing upset that gave the Wildcats the honorable distinction of being the lowest seed to win March Madness. Or recall that game in the 1998 women's March Madness tournament, when the No. 16 seed Harvard defeated the No. 1 Stanford. No matter what any of the experts predict, there is always an element of surprise that makes this tournament so entertaining.
When Does March Madness Start?
March Madness 2025 officially begins with the First Four games played on March 18 and 19. First-round action then kicks off on March 20 and 21, followed by second-round play on March 22 and 23. Then things get really interesting with the Sweet Sixteen games, which will occur on March 27 and 28. The Elite 8 will play on March 29 and 30, before the Final Four games take place on April 5. Last but not least will be the National Championship on April 7.
If you're looking for March Madness games today, be sure to check out the NCAA's constantly updating schedule here.
Where to Watch March Madness
CBS Sports and Turner Sports will show all 67 games of the men's Division 1 March Madness tournament across their channels TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV. CBS games will also stream on Paramount+. TNT, TBS, and truTV games will stream on Max. The Final Four games on April 5 will be broadcast on CBS/Paramount+, as will the National Championship game on April 7.
How to Watch March Madness on Paramount+
The biggest games in this year's tournament, including the Final Four and the National Championship, will be broadcast on Paramount+ via CBS. There are two subscription options: Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for $12.99/month or Paramount+ Essential for $7.99/month, although only the SHOWTIME package will get you access to CBS and March Madness games. Both plans come with a free one-week trial. If you want to see the games that matter most, Paramount+ is your best bet.
How to Watch March Madness on Hulu + Live TV
CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV are all available, along with nearly 100 other channels, on Hulu + Live TV. You can get Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads) for $82.99/month after a 3-day free trial. Or, you can pay a bit extra to get rid of the ads on Hulu and Disney+ for $95.99/month. In addition to being able to watch March Madness games, you can also get a ton of college sports year-round with ESPN+.
How to Watch March Madness on Prime Video
Prime Video is another great spot to catch March Madness through add-ons. Both Max and Paramount+ have add-ons you should consider to minimize the need for more apps on your home screen. If you're already a power Prime Video user and want to access Paramount+ through Prime Video, you can do that too. Adding Paramount+ to Prime Video will cost $7.99/month after a one-week free trial. Like Paramount+, you can also add Max to your Prime Video account. This add-on costs as low as $9.99/month.
How to Watch March Madness on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM also carries CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Subscription plans range from Entertainment (for around $86.99/month) to Ultimate (around $129.99/month). Please note that these prices do not include possible additional costs, such as regional sports network fees. Any of the plans will get you access to more than 100 channels, including additional sports content on MLB Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, and the ACC Network. If you're looking for an almost endless array of live college sports games, DIRECTV STREAM is an excellent option.
DIRECTV STREAM's pricing is different in certain areas. Be sure to get accurate pricing below.
How to Watch March Madness on Max
Max will be streaming all of the March Madness games broadcast on TNT, TBS, and truTV. The streamer offers lots of different plans and bundles, starting with Basic (with ads) for $9.99/month or $100/year. You can also subscribe to Max, Hulu, and Disney+ for $16.99/month (with ads) or $29.99/month (without ads). Whatever you choose, you'll have a vast library of both live and on-demand sports content at your fingertips 24/7.
How to Watch March Madness from anywhere with a VPN
If you're hoping to watch March Madness games but are located somewhere outside of the United States, fear not. You can still access an American streaming service like DIRECTV STREAM by signing up for a VPN service. ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and NordVPN allow you to hide your location and watch U.S. streaming platforms. Private Internet Access starts at $2/month, while ExpressVPN plans start at $8.32/month. Also, NordVPN, another great VPN, is hosting a birthday sale that brings the price of the service down 72%.
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