The 2026 NCAA basketball tournaments are here, with both men's and women's brackets offering multiple streaming options across different networks. The men's tournament is split between CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV, while ESPN handles the women's games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS.

For the men's tournament, the most affordable approach is using HBO Max's Basic plan at $11/month for TNT, TBS, and truTV games, plus Paramount+ Premium at $14/month for CBS coverage. This two-service approach costs just $25 total. Alternatively, YouTube TV offers a discounted $60/month rate for the first two months, providing all games in one place with its multiview feature.

Women's tournament viewers should consider ESPN Select at $13/month or live TV services like Sling ($57/month for Orange + Sports Extra) or YouTube TV. The ESPN app provides the best experience once you have access to ESPN networks, offering multiview streaming and tournament information in one place.