March Madness 2026 kicks off this week with both men's and women's NCAA tournaments. The men's tournament begins March 17 with First Four games, while the women's starts March 18. Both tournaments run through early April, culminating in championship games on April 6 (men) and April 5 (women). Fans face a complex streaming landscape with games spread across multiple networks and platforms.

CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery split men's tournament rights across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. The most budget-friendly option combines HBO Max Basic ($11/month) with Paramount+ Premium ($14/month) for $25 total, covering all games. Live TV services like YouTube TV ($60/month after trial) offer all games in one place with multiview capabilities. The March Madness Live app provides multiview features but excludes CBS games.

ESPN exclusively broadcasts the women's tournament across ABC, ESPN, ESPNU, and ESPN2. ESPN Select ($13/month) offers the most affordable standalone option, while live TV services like Sling ($57/month) or YouTube TV ($60/month) provide comprehensive coverage. The ESPN app features multiview capabilities and MegaCast options for Final Four and championship games.

CBS games on the men's tournament can be streamed for free via the March Madness website and apps. For women's games, only ABC broadcasts are available without a subscription. No free trial period covers the entire tournament, with YouTube TV offering the longest at 10 days.