If you're a college basketball fan looking to catch all the March Madness action, sports streaming services and websites offer plenty of convenient, cable-free solutions. Using my film and pop culture knowledge, I've created this guide to help you choose a TV streaming service so you can watch every game tournament from home.
Whether you're after extensive coverage, affordability, or flexibility, you'll find a service tailored to your needs. Let's look at TV streaming services that'll put every fast-break thrill at your fingertips.
You can watch men’s March Madness games on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, while ABC and ESPN will show the women’s tournament.
» Thinking of changing to streaming? Find out why you should switch to live TV.
2024 March Madness Schedule
2024 March Madness begins on March 17 with Selection Sunday. Here's the rest of the lineup:
- First Four on March 19-20
- First round on March 21-22
- Second round on March 23-24
- Sweet 16 on March 28-29
- Elite Eight on March 30-31
- Final Four April 6
- NCAA championship game on April 8
Our 5 Best March Madness Streaming Platforms at a Glance:
Sling TV - Best March Madness streaming platform overall
Hulu + Live TV - Best for live TV channels and on-demand shows
DIRECTV Stream - Best for affordable pricing
ESPN+ - Best for extensive coverage of college basketball and conferences
FuboTV - Best for flexible subscription options
1. Sling TV
Cost - From $45/month
Free Trial - 3 days
Special Offers - New users can get $10 off their first month
Sling TV automatically arranges its channel guide, placing your favorites first. You can also use the filter function to display your most watched genres. For March Madness, I'd recommend the Sling Orange plan. It has 30+ channels, including TNT.
Sling TV's multiview feature lets you watch up to four games simultaneously. This is perfect for keeping up with multiple games during March Madness.
Why we chose Sling TV for streaming March Madness:
- Includes niche sports networks
- Allows streaming on multiple devices
- Offers DVR functionality
Supported devices:
- Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
- Mobile devices: Apple iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets
- TV-connected devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox, LG Smart TVs, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs
2. Hulu + Live TV
Cost - From $76.99/month
Free Trial - 30 days
Special Offers - $49.99 for the first three months
Hulu + Live TV gives you a personalized March Madness experience. Pick your favorite teams and leagues, and the service will recommend basketball games based on your selections. It streams March Madness on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV.
Hulu + Live TV also sends game-time push notifications, letting you know when your teams are playing. Plus, you can easily access top games from the home screen.
Why we chose Hulu + Live TV for streaming March Madness:
- Broadcasts the Bally Sports networks
- Multiple screen viewing
- Bundles with ESPN+ for additional sports content
Supported devices:
- Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
- Mobile devices: Apple iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets
- TV-connected devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Echo Show, Fire Tablets, Samsung Smart TVs, Roku
Read the full Hulu Live TV review
3. DIRECTV Stream
Cost - From $69.99/month
Free Trial - 5 days
Special Offers - $50 discount over the first two months
DIRECTV Stream has a wide selection of live channels for full March Madness coverage. It also includes a multiview feature that lets you watch up to four games at once on a single screen. This option can be helpful if you want to stream several games simultaneously.
Additionally, DIRECTV Stream alerts you when your favorite teams are playing so you don't miss any action. These notifications can appear on your screen, through the mobile app, or you can receive them via email.
Why we chose DIRECTV Stream for streaming March Madness:
- Complete coverage of March Madness
- Promotional discounts for new subscribers
- A broad selection of live sports and entertainment
Supported devices:
- Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Safari
- Mobile devices: Apple, Android, Amazon Fire Tablet
- TV-connected devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung, Telly TV
4. ESPN+
Cost - From $10.99/month
Free Trial - No
Special Offers - ESPN+ can be bundled for free with a Hulu + Live TV subscription
ESPN+'s sports coverage is extensive, with access to thousands of games from over 25 college conferences. In addition to live games, ESPN+ provides exclusive content like interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at players.
For March Madness, ESPN+ offers tips and analysis to help you make informed decisions when filling out your NCAA bracket 2024. It's available as a separate subscription service, but you can also bundle it with Hulu + Live TV.
Why we chose ESPN+ for streaming March Madness:
- On-demand access to original docuseries
- Premium articles and specialized tools for fantasy sports
- Exclusive access to ESPN's extensive sports library
Supported devices:
- Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari
- Mobile devices: Apple, Android, Amazon Fire tablets
- TV-connected devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Cox Contour TV and Contour Stream Player, LG Smart TVs, Roku, Samsung Tizen Smart TVs, Xfinity Flex and X1 TV Box, Xumo TV and XiOne Box, Xbox, PlayStation
» Considering a combo deal? Learn why you should bundle your TV streaming services.
5. FuboTV
Cost - From $74.99/month
Free Trial - 7 days
Special Offers - N/A
fuboTV provides a wide range of sports channels that cover all the March college basketball games, including WCBS-TV. It also gives you access to 100+ other sports broadcasts, so you can stream the Super Bowl and watch pay-per-view (PPV) events without cable.
With fuboTV, you receive 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage for free. The platform is tailored for sports enthusiasts, featuring a home screen with a dedicated sports tab. This menu provides an easy way to navigate and find games.
Why we chose FuboTV for streaming March Madness:
- Has a quarterly package for the Latino community
- 4K streaming
- User-friendly navigation
Supported devices:
- Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
- Mobile devices: Apple iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets
- TV-connected devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox
Additional NBA Coverage
I like Hulu + Live TV for basketball beyond March Madness since you get access to additional sports content through ESPN+. This bundle features several NBA games, so you're less likely to miss exciting matchups. Hulu + Live TV also has channels like Fox Sports, which frequently air NBA games.
Sling TV stands out for basketball fans, too, especially with its current promotion. The platform offers three months of the Sling Orange plan with the NBA League Pass for $135.
YouTube TV also provides good coverage for NBA games, with channels like ABC and ESPN. But if you want to follow a team outside your local market, consider adding the NBA League Pass to your subscription for an extra $14.99/month or $74.99 for the whole season.
» Need more options? Check out our top TV services to watch the NBA Finals and stream it online.
March Madness Moments Are Just a Click Away
In 2023, the March Madness basketball tournament attracted about 10 million viewers per game. Before you join this year's at-home crowd, test out different streaming services with free trials. This way, you can assess their quality and coverage to make sure they meet your March Madness viewing needs.
With the right streaming platform, every game, every upset, and every buzzer-beater is just a click away, ensuring you won't miss a moment of the action.
» Find out why TV streaming is worth the price.
Sarah Osman-Mikesell has written about film and pop culture for over a decade. She holds a BA in creative writing and is pursuing her master’s degree in the same field. Aside from her work at Top10.com, Sarah’s writing has been featured in SheKnows, The Huffington Post, Success Magazine, and more.
