Spring has arrived, and college basketball fans nationwide are gearing up for the most anticipated collegiate sporting event of the year: March Madness. However, with streaming platforms galore, knowing how to watch March Madness and get the most out of the tournament has never been more complex. We at StreamSafely are dedicated to helping you experience every thrilling moment, shocking upset, and unforgettable buzzer-beater of the most anticipated men’s basketball tournament of the year — all while keeping your digital security protected.
Where To Watch March Madness 2025: Channels and Schedules
March Madness fans need to pay close attention to know which networks will be airing each stage of the tournament. CBS Sports and Turner Sports will televise all 68 teams throughout the 67 basketball games and broadcast them across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, with each network handling specific rounds.Â
However, one thing we do know for sure is that the Final Four and Championship Game will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+— only at a new start time. The final CBS game will now start at 8:50 PM ET, which is 30 minutes earlier than previous broadcasts.
Where to Watch: 2025 March Madness Schedule
Click on a round of the tournament to expand the schedule of the games for that day:
Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 16
First Four: Tuesday, March 18
First Four: Wednesday, March 19
First Round: Thursday, March 20
First Round: Friday, March 21
Second Round: Saturday, March 22
Second Round: Sunday, March 23
Regional Semifinals (Sweet 16): Thursday, March 27
Regional Semifinals (Sweet 16): Friday, March 28
Regional Finals (Elite 8): Saturday, March 29
Regional Finals (Elite 8): Sunday, March 30
Final Four: Saturday, April 5
NCAA Championship Game: Monday, April 7
2025 March Madness Venues
- First Four
- UD Arena, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
- First/Second Rounds
- Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
- Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
- Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
- Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
- Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, Ohio
- Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Regionals
- East: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- West: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
- South: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
- Midwest: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Semifinals and Championship
- Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Familiarize yourself with the tournament’s schedule and broadcast channels to plan your viewing experience and catch every crucial matchup.
How To Watch March Madness 2025: Providers and Streaming Services
March Madness isn’t an event to be missed. Now that you have your calendars marked for each big game, we at StreamSafely are ready to recommend our lineup of this year’s best providers and streaming options!
Cable
- Base Plan: Price varies by provider
- Free Trial: No
Most cable packages will include the four channels that are set to broadcast the live games of March Madness: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. However, if you aren’t already familiar with your cable plan or are considering changing packages or subscribing for the first time, double-check with your local providers to make sure all the channels you want are available. Once you’ve found the package you love, you can download each of the channels’ apps to get live March Madness action while you’re on the go or away from home.
Android
Get the CBS App | Get the TBS App | Get the TNT App | Get the truTV App
Apple
Get the CBS App | Get the TBS App | Get the TNT App | Get the truTV App
NCAA March Madness Live
- Online or App: Free with select TV providers
- Free Trial: No
The NCAA March Madness Live app is the official streaming platform of the NCAA tournament. Compatible with a range of devices and Apple TVs, the app lets you stream every game of March Madness. If you have an existing TV plan from select providers, all you have to do is sign on with your TV account credentials, and you’ll get access to all the action in one place. You can also view the games online on the March Madness official website.
Download the App for Android | Download the App for Apple
Max
- Base Plan: $9.99
- Free Trial: No
March Madness is coming to Max! For less than $10 per month, you can enjoy select games of the NCAA tournament with your Max subscription or as an add-on with Hulu. We at StreamSafely anticipate that all TBS, TNT, and truTV games of the 2025 tournament will be available on the platform (that is, all games aside from the Final Four and Championship Game). Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is expected to have the final games that Max doesn’t, so using the two in tandem could be a great option. Keep an eye on the NCAA’s official website for the exact channel breakdown.Â
Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
- Base Plan: $12.99
- Free Trial: No
The NCAA has already announced that the Final Four and Championship games will be broadcast on CBS, which means Paramount+ may be your ideal choice to catch the exciting tournament finale! The platform won’t have access to the earlier rounds, but it can be a perfect option for casual viewers or a low-cost addition to other platforms like Sling TV or Max, which will have select 2025 games.
Sling TV Blue
- Sling TV Blue: $23.00 for your first month, $45.99 per month thereafter
- Free Trial: No
Sling TV Blue has 43 channels, including TBS, TNT, and truTV, making it a great option to Watch every March Madness game up through the Elite Eight — especially at its discounted price. To watch the Final Four and Championship Game, be sure to pair it with a service that includes CBS, like Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.Â
Hulu + Live TV
- Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV Plan: $82.99 per month
- Free Trial: Yes, 3 Days
Hulu + Live TV gives you immediate access to over 95 channels, including CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV — everything you need to catch every game of March Madness. While pricier than other options, the plan includes Disney+ and ESPN+ (both with ads), giving you endless entertainment well after the NCAA tournament has concluded.
YouTube TV
- Base Plan: $69.99 per month for your first 6 months, $82.99 per month thereafter
- Free Trial: Yes, 21 Days
If you’re a die-hard college basketball fan like us here at StreamSafely, you know that March Madness isn’t complete without live​​ interviews, press conferences, and expert analysis prior to each game. That’s exactly what YouTube TV brings to the table with NCAA March Madness 360! For a limited time, you can try YouTube TV for free for 21 days and get access to over 100 channels — including CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. With so much content and a discounted price for your first six months, the platform is well worth the price.
DIRECTV STREAM
- CHOICE Plan: $114.99 per month (as of this writing, discounted at $89.99 per month for the first three months)
- ULTIMATE Plan: $129.99 per month (as of this writing, discounted at $104.99 per month for the first three months)
- Free Trial: Yes, 5 Days
Sports fans with a love of television may find their perfect streaming package with DIRECTV STREAM. The CHOICE and ULTIMATE packages come with TNT, TBS, and truTV to watch the earlier March Madness games — just make sure your zip code also includes CBS to catch the Final Four and the Championship Game. Plus, you can get as many as 160 channels included in your plan to access all your favorite networks.Â
Streaming Safely: Your March Madness Defensive Strategy
March Madness is about excitement, not online stress. With StreamSafely’s expert guidance, you can focus on the game, not on potential cybersecurity risks from deceptive websites and known piracy platforms. Even after the basketball tournament ends, you can turn to our sports streaming guide, which breaks down all the best ways to watch your favorite sports, teams, and leagues.
If your love of entertainment extends beyond live sports, we encourage you to browse our full database of movies and TV shows as well as our recommendations for 100% free streaming platforms so that you can kick back stress-free with your favorite content every time. For now, get your bracket ready and enjoy March Madness 2025!
