by March Madness is the most exciting time of year for college basketball fans. With NCAA basketball games airing on TBS, TNT, ESPN, CBS and TruTV in the US, it’s easier than ever to catch all the action, and you have more than a few options to do so. However, the selection of games broadcast on each channel depends on which networks have broadcast rights to various conferences, so if you want access to every NCAA basketball game, you’ll want a TV streaming package that includes those channels. The good news is that there are many live TV streaming services that cover these networks, allowing fans to tune in to every NCAA live stream without cable. To help you choose the right one for your needs and budget, we’ve broken down all the different platforms to stream NCAA basketball and watch March Madness online, including some ways you can watch the games for free (even and for a limited time).
Watch NCAA basketball on FuboTV
FuboTV is another option for streamers who want to watch NCAA basketball online. However, it is important to note that FuboTV only carries ESPN and CBS and does not have TNT, TBS or TruTV, which also broadcast games. However, if ESPN and CBS cover the conferences you’re interested in, FuboTV is a great choice for sports fans looking to ditch the cord and cut the cord. It has one of the most impressive channel lineups (despite the aforementioned omissions), offering more than 150 channels with its basic plan. The service also offers a one-week free trial for new subscribers, allowing you to try it out before committing to a subscription. After the trial, pricing starts at $75 per month.
Watch NCAA basketball on Sling TV
Sling TV is a great and affordable live TV package for streamers who want to watch NCAA basketball online. Both the $40/month Sling Orange and Sling Blue carry TNT and TBS, two channels that carry the most games. However, Sling Orange is the only one that carries ESPN, which also broadcasts many of the games. On the other hand, Sling Blue is the only one that carries TruTV, which is showing some other rounds of the tournament. If you only choose one of the two, we recommend Sling Blue because it offers more channels overall and allows for up to three simultaneous streams. This means you can watch multiple games at once or share your account with friends and family (Sling Orange only allows one stream at a time). However, you can bundle the two plans on Sling Orange and Blue for $55 a month, giving you all the channels you need to access most NCAA live streams. However, you’re still missing CBS, so you might want to consider adding Paramount+ so you’re covered for all NCAA games this season.
Watch NCAA basketball on ESPN Plus
If you’re looking for an affordable option to watch NCAA basketball, ESPN+ is a solid choice. While ESPN+ only has access to select conferences, specifically Big 12 and SEC Network games, it’s still a great way to watch much of the season without breaking the bank. ESPN+ is available for $10 per month or $100 per year and also offers a variety of other sports content including UFC, LaLiga soccer and more. Plus, you can watch games on demand after they’ve aired, making it easy to catch up on any action you might have missed. While ESPN+ doesn’t offer access to every NCAA live stream, it’s still a great app for sports fans looking for an affordable way to stay up-to-date with their favorite teams and conferences. It’s also a must-have for MMA fans, as ESPN+ is the best way to watch UFC fights online and is the only UFC pay-per-view venue in the US.
Watch NCAA basketball on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus is another cheap standalone app for streamers who want to watch NCAA basketball games online. Since CBS is one of the networks broadcasting the games, Paramount Plus will air all the same games that CBS does, which covers the entire March Madness men’s tournament. Paramount Plus also offers a host of other content, including original shows, movies and more, making it a great platform for entertainment and sports, even if it’s not a complete cord-cutting TV streaming package on its own. Additionally, new subscribers can take advantage of a one-week free trial to test the service and see if it’s worth the small fee. It’s by far the cheapest service in our roundup, at $5 a month or $50 a year.
Watch NCAA basketball on Hulu with live TV
Hulu with live TV might be our favorite choice for streamers who want to enjoy all NCAA basketball games in one place. With TBS, TNT, ESPN, CBS and TruTV included in its 85+ channel lineup, Hulu with Live TV offers access to all the channels you need to stream every NCAA live stream. It’s also great for cord cutters because it includes Hulu’s library of on-demand content, as well as Disney+ and ESPN+, with its live TV package. That means you can sink your teeth into a massive library of shows and movies on Hulu, plus additional exclusive content on Disney+ and ESPN+. With plans competitively priced at $70 per month, Hulu with Live TV is a great all-in-one solution for streaming NCAA basketball and lots of other live and on-demand entertainment.
Watch NCAA basketball on YouTube TV
Last but not least is YouTube TV, which is another great live TV streaming service to watch NCAA basketball online. With TBS, TNT, ESPN, CBS and TruTV all included in the 100+ channel lineup, YouTube TV offers access to all channels that broadcast NCAA games. This makes it easy to enjoy all the action in one place without having to switch between different streaming services. Even better, YouTube TV offers a free 14-day trial for new subscribers, giving users the chance to watch NCAA basketball games for free for two weeks. This is the longest free trial of any streaming service on this list, and a great way to try out YouTube TV before committing to a subscription, which starts at $65 per month.
Watch NCAA basketball from abroad with a VPN
If you’re outside the US and want to watch region-restricted NCAA basketball games, you’ll need a virtual private network to bypass geo-restrictions and access the streams. With a VPN, you can connect to a remote server in the US and appear as if you are in the country, giving you access to the games just as if you were in the US. You can also enjoy privacy and peace of mind knowing that your web traffic is encrypted and hidden from prying eyes. Our favorite VPN service for streaming NCAA basketball games is NordVPN, thanks to its fast and stable connectivity. NordVPN also offers a wide range of security features, including encryption and a strict no-logging policy, ensuring that your internet activity remains private and secure.
Editors’ recommendations
