March Madness has more avenues than ever for fans to enjoy it in 2022, whether through a cable subscription or streaming service (or both).
The 2022 NCAA Tournament will be carried by CBS and the Turner Broadcast package of TNT, TBS and truTV. Assuming you have a cable subscription, you will be able to watch any and all NCAA Tournament games you want on TV. But the cable-cutting era has also provided more options for those who prefer to stream their content.
Regardless of your viewing preferences, there is no shortage of services that can scratch college basketball fans’ viewing itch when it comes to March Madness (though it’s worth noting not every service will have every game available).
The sheer amount of options available can be dizzying for fans to traverse. Luckily, The Sporting News has a complete breakdown of where and how to watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament:
MORE: Watch select March Madness games live with Sling TV (free trial)
March Madness live streams 2022
March Madness in 2022 will be carried by CBS (18 games) and Turner Sports stations (49 games), the latter of which is split among TNT, TBS and truTV. Turner Sports has exclusive broadcast rights of the First Four, Final Four and national championship games, and will also provide coverage of Rounds 1 and 2, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. CBS will also cover the first and second rounds, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
| Round | TV channel | Live stream |
| First Four | TruTV | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
| Round 1 | CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
| Round 2 | CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
| Sweet 16 | CBS, TBS | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
| Elite Eight | CBS, TBS | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
| Final Four | TBS | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
| National championship | TBS | NCAA March Madness Live, Sling TV |
Every game in the 2022 NCAA Tournament can be streamed via NCAA March Madness Live; other streaming options include CBS’ streaming service, Paramount+, and Sling TV.
Sling TV offers the best value to stream all March Madness games broadcast on TBS, TNT and TruTV (49 of 67 total games). New subscribers who sign up for a three-day free trial to Sling TV’s blue bundle would pay $35 per month thereafter.
To watch the additional 18 games broadcast on CBS, you can add a Paramount+ premium subscription for $9.99. Combined with Sling TV, that is the cheapest way to watch every NCAA Tournament game compared to YouTube TV, fuboTV, Hulu and DirecTV.
| Sling Blue & Paramount+ | YouTube TV | fuboTV | Hulu + Live | DirecTV Stream | |
| CBS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TruTV | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TBS | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $44.99 | $64.99 | $64.99 | $69.99 | $69.99 |
How to watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament for free without cable
Fans who want to tune in and watch March Madness have one free, readily available option: NCAA March Madness live, which provides free access to all the action with a cable subscription or streaming service login. (The NCAA March Madness app provides three hours of complementary coverage).
Streaming sites that carry all or part of the NCAA Tournament include Sling TV, which offers a free trial, Paramount+, Hulu Plus Live TV and more.
MORE: March Madness central
Can I watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Sling TV?
Partly. Sling TV includes Turner Broadcasting System but does not include CBS in either of its base packages.
Can I watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament on YouTube TV?
Yes. YouTube TV includes both CBS and Turner Broadcasting System in its package, meaning the NCAA Tournament will be available on the site. YouTube TV offers a two-week free trial upon signup.
Can I watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Hulu Plus Live TV?
Yes. Hulu Plus Live TV includes CBS and Turner Broadcasting System. Hulu’s live TV package comes with a one-week free trial upon signup.
Can I watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament on DirectTV Stream Now?
Yes. DirectTV Stream — formerly AT&T TV Now — has Turner Broadcasting System and now includes CBS. It does not offer a free trial.
Can I watch the 2022 NCAA Tournament on fuboTV?
Partly. FuboTV includes CBS but has dropped Turner Broadcasting System from its listings.
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