The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, popularly known as March Madness, is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events in the United States. The tournament features 68 college basketball teams competing in a single-elimination bracket, with the ultimate goal of being crowned the national champion. If you’re a basketball fan, you won’t want to miss a single game. In this article, we’ll provide you with the TV schedule for March Madness, so you can plan your viewing experience.
Understanding the March Madness TV Schedule
The March Madness TV schedule is a complex beast, with multiple networks broadcasting games throughout the tournament. The main broadcast partners for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. These networks will broadcast games from the first round to the championship game.
Network Broadcast Schedule
Here’s a breakdown of the network broadcast schedule for March Madness:
- CBS: CBS will broadcast the most games, including the championship game. They will also broadcast the Final Four semifinals and the national championship game.
- TBS: TBS will broadcast games from the first round to the Elite Eight. They will also broadcast the Final Four semifinals.
- TNT: TNT will broadcast games from the first round to the Sweet 16.
- truTV: truTV will broadcast games from the first round to the second round.
Streaming Options
If you don’t have access to a TV or prefer to stream games online, there are several options available. The NCAA March Madness Live app will provide live streaming of all games, as well as on-demand replays. You can also stream games through the CBS All Access app, the TBS app, the TNT app, and the truTV app.
March Madness TV Schedule by Round
Here’s a breakdown of the TV schedule for each round of the tournament:
First Four
- Date: Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14-15
- Time: 6:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET
- Network: truTV
The First Four games will be broadcast on truTV, with two games on Tuesday and two games on Wednesday.
First Round
- Date: Thursday and Friday, March 16-17
- Time: 12:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET
- Network: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV
The first round games will be broadcast on all four networks, with games starting at 12:00 PM ET and continuing throughout the day and night.
Second Round
- Date: Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19
- Time: 12:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET
- Network: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV
The second round games will be broadcast on all four networks, with games starting at 12:00 PM ET and continuing throughout the day and night.
Sweet 16
- Date: Thursday and Friday, March 23-24
- Time: 7:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET
- Network: CBS and TBS
The Sweet 16 games will be broadcast on CBS and TBS, with two games on Thursday and two games on Friday.
Elite Eight
- Date: Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26
- Time: 6:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET
- Network: CBS and TBS
The Elite Eight games will be broadcast on CBS and TBS, with one game on Saturday and one game on Sunday.
Final Four
- Date: Saturday, April 1
- Time: 6:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET
- Network: CBS and TBS
The Final Four semifinals will be broadcast on CBS and TBS, with two games on Saturday.
National Championship Game
- Date: Monday, April 3
- Time: 9:00 PM ET
- Network: CBS
The national championship game will be broadcast on CBS, with a start time of 9:00 PM ET.
Additional Viewing Options
In addition to the traditional TV broadcast, there are several other ways to experience March Madness.
Virtual Reality
The NCAA will offer virtual reality broadcasts of select games, including the Final Four semifinals and the national championship game. You can experience the games in VR through the NCAA March Madness Live app.
Radio Broadcasts
Westwood One will provide radio broadcasts of all games, including the championship game. You can listen to the games on the radio or through the Westwood One app.
Conclusion
The March Madness TV schedule is a complex and exciting beast, with multiple networks broadcasting games throughout the tournament. Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard basketball enthusiast, there’s something for everyone. With this guide, you’ll be able to plan your viewing experience and catch all the action from the first round to the championship game.
| Round | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Four | Tuesday and Wednesday, March 14-15 | 6:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET | truTV |
| First Round | Thursday and Friday, March 16-17 | 12:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET | CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV |
| Second Round | Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19 | 12:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET | CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV |
| Sweet 16 | Thursday and Friday, March 23-24 | 7:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET | CBS and TBS |
| Elite Eight | Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26 | 6:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET | CBS and TBS |
| Final Four | Saturday, April 1 | 6:00 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET | CBS and TBS |
| National Championship Game | Monday, April 3 | 9:00 PM ET | CBS |
By following this guide, you’ll be able to catch all the action from March Madness and experience the excitement of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
What is March Madness and how does it work?
March Madness is the nickname given to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, a single-elimination college basketball tournament held in the United States each spring. The tournament features 68 teams competing in a bracket-style competition, with the winner advancing to the next round and the loser being eliminated.
The tournament is divided into several rounds, including the First Four, the Round of 64, the Round of 32, the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and the Championship Game. Each round is played over a period of several days, with the tournament typically lasting around three weeks. The teams are selected and seeded by a committee, with the top teams in each region receiving a higher seed and a more favorable matchup.
How can I watch March Madness on TV?
March Madness games are broadcast on several television networks, including CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. The games are also available to stream online through various platforms, such as the NCAA March Madness Live app, CBS All Access, and the websites of the participating networks. In addition, many cable and satellite providers offer March Madness games as part of their sports packages.
To watch March Madness on TV, you will need to have a subscription to a cable or satellite provider that carries the networks broadcasting the games. You can also purchase a streaming service that offers the games, such as Sling TV or YouTube TV. If you don’t have a subscription, you can also watch the games at a sports bar or restaurant that carries the networks.
What is the March Madness TV schedule?
The March Madness TV schedule varies from year to year, but it typically includes games played over a period of three weeks in March and April. The schedule is released by the NCAA and the participating networks in advance of the tournament, and it includes the date, time, and network for each game.
The schedule typically includes games played during the day and evening, with the most highly anticipated matchups often being played in prime time. The schedule also includes studio shows and analysis programs, which provide commentary and discussion of the games and the tournament as a whole.
Can I stream March Madness games online?
Yes, March Madness games are available to stream online through various platforms. The NCAA March Madness Live app offers live streaming of all games, as well as on-demand replays and highlights. The app is available for download on mobile devices, tablets, and smart TVs.
In addition to the NCAA app, games are also available to stream through the websites of the participating networks, such as CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Many cable and satellite providers also offer streaming services that include March Madness games, such as Sling TV and YouTube TV. You will need to have a subscription to one of these services to access the games.
How can I get the NCAA March Madness Live app?
The NCAA March Madness Live app is available for download on mobile devices, tablets, and smart TVs. You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play, depending on your device. The app is free to download, but you will need to have a subscription to a cable or satellite provider that carries the networks broadcasting the games to access the live streams.
Once you have downloaded the app, you can log in with your cable or satellite provider credentials to access the live streams. The app also offers on-demand replays and highlights, as well as analysis and commentary from NCAA experts.
Can I watch March Madness games on my mobile device?
Yes, March Madness games are available to watch on your mobile device through the NCAA March Madness Live app. The app offers live streaming of all games, as well as on-demand replays and highlights. You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play, depending on your device.
To watch games on your mobile device, you will need to have a subscription to a cable or satellite provider that carries the networks broadcasting the games. You can log in with your provider credentials to access the live streams. The app is optimized for mobile devices, with features such as live scoring and stats, as well as social media integration.
Are March Madness games available in 4K?
Some March Madness games are available to watch in 4K, depending on the network and the device you are using. CBS, for example, offers 4K broadcasts of select games, including the Final Four and the Championship Game. To watch games in 4K, you will need to have a 4K-compatible device, such as a smart TV or a streaming device like Roku or Chromecast.
In addition to CBS, some cable and satellite providers also offer 4K broadcasts of March Madness games. You will need to check with your provider to see if they offer 4K broadcasts and what devices are compatible. The NCAA March Madness Live app also offers 4K streaming of select games, but you will need to have a 4K-compatible device to access the 4K streams.