You Only Need Two Streaming Services for Every March Madness Game
March Madness is the best three weeks in sports, but figuring out how to watch all 67 NCAA Tournament games without cable can be confusing. The good news: it is simpler than you think. Every single game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament airs on just four networks — CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV — and you can access all of them with just two streaming subscriptions. No cable box required.
The Two Services You Need
Here is the complete breakdown:
- Paramount+ with Showtime ($12.99/month): Streams every NCAA Tournament game that airs on CBS, including the Final Four and National Championship Game. CBS carries the biggest games of the tournament.
- Max ($16.99/month): Streams every NCAA Tournament game that airs on TBS, TNT, and truTV. These three Turner networks carry the majority of first-round and second-round games, plus one half of the bracket through the Elite Eight.
That is it. For $29.98/month, you get every single March Madness game from the First Four all the way through the championship. No $75/month live TV bundle needed.
Best Budget Option: TV Antenna + Max
If you want to spend even less, a basic TV antenna is your best friend. CBS is a broadcast network, which means it is available for free over the air in most parts of the country. A one-time purchase of a digital TV antenna ($15-$30 on Amazon) gives you CBS in HD — no monthly fee, no subscription, no login required.
Pair that antenna with a Max subscription ($16.99/month) for TBS, TNT, and truTV games, and you have full tournament coverage for just $16.99/month after the antenna purchase. That is the absolute cheapest way to watch every March Madness game without cable.
The Easiest All-in-One Approach: Subscribe Through Prime Video
If you want the simplest, most organized setup, Amazon Prime Video lets you add both Paramount+ and Max as channel add-ons directly within the Prime Video app. This means:
- One app, one interface for all your March Madness games
- One bill through your Amazon account
- Easy to cancel everything in one place when the tournament ends
- Watch on any device that has the Prime Video app (Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, phone, tablet, laptop)
If you already have Amazon Prime ($14.99/month), you can add Paramount+ ($12.99/month) and Max ($16.99/month) as channels and manage everything through one account. The total comes to $44.97/month with Prime included, but if you are already a Prime member, it is just the $29.98 for the two add-ons.
Pro Tip: Cancel Right After the Championship
The NCAA Tournament typically runs from mid-March through early April. The entire event lasts about three weeks. Since both Paramount+ and Max are month-to-month subscriptions with no contracts, you can subscribe the week the tournament starts and cancel the day after the championship game. You will get full access for the entire tournament and only pay for one month of each service.
If you subscribe through Prime Video channels, canceling is especially easy — just go to your Amazon account, click "Manage Your Subscriptions," and cancel both add-ons in under a minute.
Which Games Air on Which Network?
Here is how the tournament games are typically distributed across the four networks:
- CBS: Selection Sunday, marquee first/second-round games, one side of the Regional Finals (Elite Eight), both Final Four games, and the National Championship Game.
- TBS: First/second-round games, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games from one region. TBS typically gets the best non-CBS matchups.
- TNT: First/second-round games and Sweet 16 games. TNT carries prime-time tournament action on the first Thursday and Friday.
- truTV: First/second-round games. truTV usually gets the daytime slots during the first two rounds, but it is also where many of the best upsets happen.
All four networks are active during the first two rounds (when 48 games are played in four days), then the field narrows and games consolidate onto CBS and TBS for the later rounds.
Summary: Your March Madness Streaming Cheat Sheet
- Cheapest option ($16.99/month): TV antenna for CBS + Max for TBS/TNT/truTV
- All-streaming option ($29.98/month): Paramount+ for CBS + Max for TBS/TNT/truTV
- Easiest one-app option: Add both Paramount+ and Max through Prime Video, cancel after the final game
Do not overpay for a $75/month live TV bundle when you only need two services for three weeks. Subscribe, enjoy every buzzer-beater and Cinderella run, then cancel. That is the cord-cutter's playbook for March Madness.
Pricing Comparison: Which Setup Is Right for You?
Here is a side-by-side look at the three main cord-cutting options for 2026 March Madness:
| Setup | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| TV Antenna + Max | $16.99/mo + one-time $15–30 antenna |
CBS free over the air (antenna) + TBS/TNT/truTV via Max. Covers 100% of games. Best value. |
| Paramount+ + Max | $29.98/mo | All four networks fully streamed. No antenna needed. Works on any device anywhere. |
| Prime Video + Paramount+ + Max | $44.97/mo (includes Prime) |
Everything in one app via Prime Video channels. Easiest to manage and cancel after the tournament. |
2026 NCAA Tournament Key Dates
Here are the important dates to mark on your calendar for the 2026 March Madness tournament:
- Selection Sunday: March 15, 2026 — The 68-team bracket is revealed live on CBS.
- First Four: March 17–18, 2026 — Four play-in games to determine the final four at-large and automatic bids.
- First Round: March 19–20, 2026 — 32 games played across two days. The best four days in sports begin here.
- Second Round: March 21–22, 2026 — The field narrows from 32 to 16 teams.
- Sweet 16: March 26–27, 2026 — The 16 remaining teams compete in regional semifinals.
- Elite Eight: March 28–29, 2026 — Regional finals to determine the Final Four.
- Final Four: April 4, 2026 — The two national semifinals air on CBS.
- National Championship Game: April 6, 2026 — The title game airs exclusively on CBS.
The entire tournament spans about three weeks, making it easy to subscribe to Paramount+ and Max for just one billing cycle and cancel right after the championship.