March Madness 2026 is underway right now. With the First Four games kicking off on March 17 and main bracket action heating up as of March 18, you can catch every buzzer-beater across TV and streaming platforms.

TV Channels

All 67 men's tournament games air on four networks, ensuring wall-to-wall coverage no matter your schedule.

  • CBS : Leads with 21 games, including Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and potential Final Four matchups.
  • TBS : Also 21 games, covering Final Four, Elite Eight, and Sweet 16.
  • truTV : 23 games or simulcasts, starting with all First Four games from Dayton, Ohio.
  • TNT : 15 games or simulcasts for early rounds and beyond.

Today's slate (March 18) includes First Four action on truTV at UD Arena, with round-of-64 games ramping up Friday across multiple sites like Tampa and Philadelphia.

Streaming Options

Stream every game seamlessly via official apps and services—no blackouts, just pure hoops.

  • March Madness Live app : The go-to hub for all 67 games on your phone, tablet, or computer.
  • Paramount+ (Premium) : CBS games exclusively, perfect for bracket trackers.
  • HBO Max : TBS, TNT, and truTV coverage for cord-cutters.
  • Live TV bundles (with free trials): Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, Fubo—all carry the core channels.

Platform| Key Channels Covered| Free Trial?| Best For
---|---|---|---
March Madness Live| All (CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV)| N/A (auth via provider)| Full tournament access 67
Paramount+| CBS only| Yes| CBS-heavy viewers 2
HBO Max| TBS, TNT, truTV| Limited| Non-CBS games 3
YouTube TV| All four| Yes (trial)| Live TV fans 10
Hulu + Live TV| All four| 3 days free| Binge-watchers 4

Quick Tips for Today

  • First Four wrap-up : Tune into truTV now for March 18 matchups like Miami vs. SMU—upsets are brewing early.
  • Bracket busters ahead : Friday's round of 64 in Tampa, Philly, San Diego, and St. Louis starts at various times on CBS/TBS.
  • Pro tip: Use the NCAA March Madness Live site or app for real-time schedules, as tip times flex based on prior games.

"Fans will be able to keep up with all the action no matter when they tune in." – CBS Sports on the 2026 broadcast spread

Women's tournament? ESPN networks handle that separately—check their platforms for details.

TL;DR : Fire up March Madness Live, Paramount+, or a trial on YouTube TV/Hulu for today's games—truTV has the First Four live now.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.