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How to Use the March Madness Live App to Stream the NCAA Tournament on Your Favorite Devices

Ben Bowman
Ben Bowman is the Content Director of The Streamable. He cut the cord in 2009. He roots for all Detroit sports and is a fan of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Edgar Wright, Paul Thomas Anderson, Billy Wilder, Buster Keaton, and the Coen Brothers. Ben streams on an Apple TV.
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Jeff Kotuby
Jeff Kotuby is a contributing writer to The Streamable who specializes in sports, music, and all things Japanese media. He cut the cord in 2017 and has spent the last six years of his career writing for technology, entertainment, and healthcare websites. He's a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles and Anaheim Ducks fan, but also enjoys watching animated shows from the '90s.
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Ben Bowman, Jeff Kotuby

Whether you’re a diehard college basketball fan or just want to sink into the madness, for a few days, March Madness Live is the streaming destination for you. All 67 NCAA Tournament games are available on the service, which you can authenticate using your TV Everywhere Credentials.

March Madness Live is a one-stop shop for all your men’s college basketball needs and is a must-have for anyone looking to jump into the action this weekend.

If you don’t have a TV Streaming package, you can watch CBS games on mobile or for three hours on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and other connected TV apps. You can sign-up for a free trial of Hulu Live TV to get all the games via the March Madness Live App.

In order to see all the games through the app, your provider must offer all the channels that will be showing the games: CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV.

DTV STREAM Fubo Hulu Philo Sling TV YouTube
Free Trial Free Trial Free 3-Day Trial Free Trial Get $10 Off Sign Up
$79.99 $91.99 $76.99 $25 $40 $40 $72.99
CBS ✓ ✓ ✓ - - - ✓
TBS ✓ - ✓ - ✓ ✓ ✓
TNT ✓ - ✓ - ✓ ✓ ✓
truTV ✓ - ✓ - + $6 ✓ ✓

Want to Watch March Madness without Cable?

Top Pick

With DIRECTV STREAM you’ll be able to watch every game in the tournament. You can try it for free with a 5-Day Free Trial.

Not only will you be able to watch games live on CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV, you can record them to your Cloud DVR or watch them on-demand.

DIRECTV STREAM

Price: $69.99
Includes: CBS, TBS, TNT, & TruTV

Budget Pick

With Paramount Plus you’ll be able to watch 24 games on CBS. You can try it for free with a seven-day free trial.

If you want a budget-friendly way to add TBS, TNT, & TruTV, you can add Sling TV which offers the channels for just $35 for your first month.

Paramount Plus

Price: $9.99
Includes: CBS

March Madness Live Features

Right away, you’ll see the Game Center, the central hub of the NCAA Tournament coverage. Here, you’ll be able to access news, highlights, and “interactive content” for every single game of March Madness. You can also access the Condensed Games feature to quickly catch up on any action that you missed while you get ready for the next slate of contests.

You’ll also have the “Fast Break” feature, an NFL RedZone-esque channel that bounces between ongoing games while providing commentary and highlights. This exciting, fast-paced feature will only be available during the first and second rounds, from March 18 through March 21.

If you’re jumping into a game already in progress, “The Catch Up” feature will bring you up-to-speed on everything you missed before you dive into the live tournament action.

Fans who filled out a bracket through the official Bracket Challenge on the NCAA website can track their progress through March Madness Live. If you haven’t yet filled out a bracket, March Madness Live offers valuable information to help you make the best picks before the tournament starts.

You can read more about the app's features here.

How to Set Up the March Madness Live App

This is the procedure for an Apple TV. It is similar to what you’ll encounter on any device.

  1. First, you’ll need to download the app to your streaming device. March Madness Live is available for iPhones, iPads, Android devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, and XBox One. Here's the link to the Apple version, and here's the link to the Google Play Store. You can also download it through the app store on your device.

  2. Once your app is installed, go to the gear icon on the left side and choose Select TV Provider.

  1. The app will generate a code and direct you to go to ncaa.com/activate.

  1. When you arrive at the site, you’ll select your streaming device.

  2. Then you’ll enter your activation code from your TV screen.

  3. Next, choose your TV provider (streaming or cable). If you don’t see your service listed, click “View All TV Providers”

  4. Once you’ve completed this, your TV screen should refresh to signify that you’re signed in.

  5. You are now free to navigate the app, which features video previews of the various games, a bracket, and all the in-game features to come.

Ben Bowman
Ben Bowman is the Content Director of The Streamable. He cut the cord in 2009. He roots for all Detroit sports and is a fan of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Edgar Wright, Paul Thomas Anderson, Billy Wilder, Buster Keaton, and the Coen Brothers. Ben streams on an Apple TV.
Read full bio ›
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DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.