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How to Watch 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Live Online for Free Without Cable

Matt Tamanini
Matt is The Streamable's News Editor and resident Ohio State fan. You can find him covering everything from breaking news to streaming comparisons to sporting events. Matt is extremely well-rounded, having worked for the Big Ten Conference, BroadwayWorld, True Crime Obsessed, and Land-Grant Holy Land before joining TS. He cut the cord in 2014, streams with a Fire TV, and his favorite titles include "The Bear," "The Great British Bake Off," "Mrs. Davis," and anything on the Hallmark Channel.
Read full bio ›
Matt Tamanini

I hope that you’ve taken the next two days off of work, because these are the high holy days for sports fans. The 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off on Thursday, March 21 at 12:15 p.m. ET as the No. 8 Mississippi State Bulldogs take on the No. 9 Michigan State Spartans in the first of 67 games over the next three weeks that will lead to one shining moment when a champion is crowned and nets are cut down. As always, the tournament games are spread across a number of networks — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV — with two on-demand streaming services Paramount+ and Max — also getting in on the action. If you are looking for a live TV streaming service to watch the Big Dance on, The Streamable recommends DIRECTV STREAM and its five-day free trial. If you are looking for the cheapest possible option, we recommend stacking subscriptions to Paramount+ for the CBS games and Max for the matchups on the Turner Networks.

How to Watch 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

About 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

From upsets to buzzer-beaters, blue-bloods to Cinderellas, March Madness has it all. The first weekend of action is the host of some of the most thrilling wall-to-wall sports action every season. So, it’s important to make sure that you know where you can watch every single game.

If you are watching on a live TV streaming service, cable, or satellite, the games will be split between four networks, CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. After the first weekend, truTV won’t air any other games, but the other three will broadcast contests in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 during the second weekend, with TBS taking the lead for the Final Four and Championship Game.

With a subscription to Paramount+ With Showtime, you can stream your local CBS affiliate, meaning that you can watch all of the games on the Eye Network for $11.99 per month. However, as of publication, promo code STALLONE will get you a one-month free trial.

The games airing on the Turner networks — TBS, TNT, truTV — will be available to stream on Max thanks to its Bleacher Report Sports Add-On. The add-on is currently free to all subscribers, so you can watch all of the men’s tournament games for as little as $9.99.

What Is the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First Round Schedule?

Date Time (ET) Network Matchup
March 21 12:15 p.m. CBS (9) Michigan St. vs. (8) Mississippi St.
12:40 p.m. truTV (11) Duquesne vs. (6) BYU
1:30 p.m. TNT (14) Akron vs. (3) Creighton
2:00 p.m. TBS (15) Long Beach State vs. (2) Arizona
2:45 p.m. CBS (16) Wagner vs. (1) North Carolina
3:10 p.m. truTV (14) Morehead State vs. (3) Illinois
4:00 p.m. TNT (11) Oregon vs. (6) South Carolina
4:30 p.m. TBS (10) Nevada vs. (7) Dayton
6:50 p.m. TNT (10) Colorado State vs. (7) Texas
7:10 p.m. CBS (14) Oakland vs. (3) Kentucky
7:25 p.m. TBS (12) McNeese vs. (5) Gonzaga
7:35 p.m. truTV (15) South Dakota St.vs. (2) Iowa St.
9:20 p.m. TNT (15) Saint Peter’s vs. (2) Tennessee
9:40 p.m. CBS (11) NC State vs. (6) Texas Tech
9:55 p.m. TBS (13) Samford vs. (4) Kansas
10:05 p.m. truTV (10) Drake vs. (7) Washington St.
March 22 12:15 p.m. CBS (9) Northwestern vs. (8) Florida Atlantic
12:40 p.m. truTV (14) Colgate vs. (3) Baylor
1:45 p.m. TNT (12) UAB vs. (5) San Diego State
2:00 p.m. TBS (15) Western Kentucky vs. (2) Marquette
2:45 p.m. CBS (16) Stetson vs. (1) UConn
3:10 p.m. truTV (11) New Mexico vs. (6) Clemson
4:15 p.m. TNT (13) Yale vs. (4) Auburn
4:30 p.m. TBS (10) Colorado vs. (7) Florida
6:50 p.m. TNT (9) Texas A&M vs. (8) Nebraska
7:10 p.m. CBS (13) Vermont vs. (4) Duke
7:25 p.m. TBS (16) Grambling State vs. (1) Purdue
7:35 p.m. truTV (13) Charleston vs. (4) Alabama
9:20 p.m. TNT (16) Longwood vs. (1) Houston
9:40 p.m. CBS (12) James Madison vs. (5) Wisconsin
9:55 p.m. TBS (9) TCU vs. (8) Utah State
10:05 p.m. truTV (12) Grand Canyon vs. (5) Saint Mary’s

Can you watch 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for free?

DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-Day Free Trial. With your free trial, you can watch CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV on DIRECTV STREAM.

You can watch 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament with a free trial of Fubo, Hulu Live TV, or Paramount Plus.

What devices can you use to stream 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?

You can watch CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV on DIRECTV STREAM using Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, iPhone/iPad, Android Phone/Tablet, Mac, Windows, LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, and VIZIO Smart TV.

2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Trailer

Matt Tamanini
Matt is The Streamable's News Editor and resident Ohio State fan. You can find him covering everything from breaking news to streaming comparisons to sporting events. Matt is extremely well-rounded, having worked for the Big Ten Conference, BroadwayWorld, True Crime Obsessed, and Land-Grant Holy Land before joining TS. He cut the cord in 2014, streams with a Fire TV, and his favorite titles include "The Bear," "The Great British Bake Off," "Mrs. Davis," and anything on the Hallmark Channel.
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.