College basketball is nearing its exciting conclusion with March Macness Whether you’re a casual watcher or a die-hard fanatic, make sure you’re ready to stream no matter where you are.
If you’ve cut the cord, you know how hard it can be to find your favorite live sports. Your favorite teams from your favorite conferences are easier to watch than you think! From OTT streaming services to dedicated sports network apps, we’ve got a full guide for you to watch NCAA basketball (for the 2023 playoffs and beyond)!
Quick Overview
Trying to follow your favorite NCAA Div-1 Basketball Team? If you’re not in the right market, don’t fret. Using a VPN can help you access all of your favorite matchups!
Best VPNs to Stream Live College Basketball
Best FlashRouters to Stream NCAA Basketball
And, if you’re looking for the easiest way to get your VPN on your SmartTV, upgrading your wireless network router will help ensure a seamless streaming experience.
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NCAA March Madness in 2023 and Beyond
Get your March Madness brackets ready, because the biggest college basketball tournament is just around the corner.
What Stations Carry NCAA March Madness in 2023?
For the NCAA “March Madness Tournament” in 2023, fans will need access to the following channels: TBS, CBS, TNT, and TruTV.
As part of an ongoing deal that lasts through 2032, Turner Sports and CBS sports share broadcasting rights for the tournament.
NCAA March Madness 2024 Channel Breakdown by Round
ROUND
CHANNEL(S)
DATES
First Four
TruTV
Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20
First and Second Rounds
CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV
Thursday, March 21 to Sunday, March 24
Regional Semifinals and Final (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)
CBS, TBS
Thursday, March 28 to Sunday, March 31
National Semifinals (Final Four) and Championship
CBS
Sunday, April 6 and Monday, April 8
How to Stream NCAA Basketball Games
Now that you know what channels you need, you can start looking for a streaming service that carries the ones you want! Check out this handy list of the top OTT streaming services for the college tournament.
STREAMING SERVICE
CHANNEL(S)
CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV
DirecTV Stream
CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV
CBS
CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV
Online NCAA Tournament Solutions
For those looking to watch the tournament online, there are a few options. Paramount+ carries a live stream of CBS, so you can catch games broadcast on CBS there.
For games broadcast via Turner Sports, users can access each channel’s respective app (TBS, TNT, TruTV) or NCAA March Madness Live. However, both of those options require an existing subscription to the service.
How Can I Watch NCAA Playoff Basketball Games Outside the US?
While March Madness games are designated as national games, that doesn’t mean that everyone can watch them easily. How can you follow your team from anywhere in the world? If you find yourself shut out, such as if you’re out of the country, consider using a VPN to change your location to unlock geo-blocked streams!
These are some of the best VPNs out there!
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What's the Best FlashRouter to Watch College Basketball?
We’re sure you want to catch your favorite team on your big screen TV, but most SmartTVs don’t have native VPN capabilities. Thankfully, with a FlashRouter, you can create a VPN-enabled Wi-Fi network! Every device you connect will be automatically protected by your VPN! Stop worrying about device limits and join the router revolution today! These are some customer favorites:
AX3000 WiFi 6 VPN FlashRouter
$149.99
- Perfect for Medium Homes
- Perfect for 20-30 Devices
Asus RT-AX88U PRO Merlin FlashRouter
$459.99
- Perfect for Max Wi-Fi Coverage
- Recommended for 15+ Devices
NordLynx WiFi 6 Router – Privacy Hero
$249.99
- Perfect for Medium Homes
- Perfect for 20-30 Devices
Looking for a Simpler NCAA Solution?
We get it! Sometimes a VPN can seem too much of a hassle. Luckily, we have an even simpler solution— from the creators of the StreamLocator Hub, Privacy Hero!
This powerful solution features the same unblocking technology that powered the StreamLocator Hub PLUS a built-in WireGuard client, for enhanced streaming and protection.
NordLynx WiFi 6 Router – Privacy Hero
FEATURES
- Perfect for Medium Homes
- Perfect for 20-30 Devices
- Built-in Support for WireGuard & Wi-Fi 6
- Exclusive Router Support for NordLynx
For those with an existing subscription to NordVPN, Privacy Hero unlocks support for their custom-created NordLynx protocol.
Already Have An Exising Router?
We’ve got a solution for those of you that don’t want to add a new router to your network! It’s called Flash My Router. Our expert team will help you configure your existing router, so you can enjoy the benefits of upgraded security and streaming.
FLASH MY ROUTER SERVICE INCLUDES:
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What Stations Carry College Basketball During the Regular Season?
Lots of television stations broadcast NCAA basketball games. You can catch some of your favorite teams on ABC, CBS, Fox, FS1, and ESPN. There are also conference-specific channels, like the Big Ten Network (BTN), SEC network, Pac12, and the ACC network. There’s even a channel dedicated to the Texas Longhorns, called the Longhorn Network.
Watching your favorite college team is a potentially complex endeavor with all these channels! Like many other US sports, NCAA basketball is not a stranger to blackout restrictions. Certain games are only available on local channels or regional sports networks (RSNs), while some are available throughout the country. In other cases, teams or leagues have their own channels, which are not available on their own.
Lucky for you, we’ve broken down where games are streaming by channel type.
Local Networks: CBS, FOX, & ABC
Cable Sports Networks: ESPN, FS1, & USA Network
Regional Sports Network (RSN): Bally Sports RSN, NBC Sports RSN, NESN, MSG, & SNY
College Sports Networks: Big 10 Network, SEC Network, etc.
Streaming Sports Networks: ESPN3, BTN+, SEC Network+, Stadium, ESPN+, Pluto.TV, & Facebook
How to Stream NCAA Basketball Games During the Regular Season
Now that you know what channels you need, you can start looking for a streaming service that carries the ones you want! Check out this handy list of the top OTT streaming services!
STREAMING SERVICE
CHANNEL(S)
Local Sports Channels: ABC, CBS, Fox
Cable Sports Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, Fox Sports 2, TBS, TNT, USA Network
College Sports Channels: ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, Longhorn Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Streaming-Only Channels: ESPN3
DirecTV Stream
Local Sports Channels: ABC, CBS, Fox
Cable Sports Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, Fox Sports 2 (not part of base package), TBS, TNT, USA Network
College Sports Channels (not part of the basic package): ACC Network (not part of base package), Big Ten Network (not part of base package), CBS Sports Network (not part of base package), ESPNU (not part of base package), SEC Network, Longhorn Network
Streaming-Only Channels: Next Level Sports (not part of base package)
Local Sports Channels: ABC, CBS, Fox
Cable Sports Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, Fox Sports 2, USA Network
College Sports Channels: ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU (not part of the basic package), Pac-12 Network (not part of the basic package), SEC Network
Streaming-Only Channels: ESPN3, Stadium (not part of the basic package), Next Level Sports, beIN Sports
Local Sports Channels: ABC, CBS, Fox
Cable Sports Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, Fox Sports 2, TBS, TNT, USA Network
College Sports Channels: ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, SEC Network
Streaming-Only Channels: ESPN3, Stadium (not part of the basic package), beIN Sports (not part of the basic package)
On top of these full streaming services, there are even some dedicated sports apps where you can catch college basketball games! CBS games are streamed via Paramount+. Games broadcast via ESPN or ABC can be streamed ESPN+. Meanwhile, viewers looking for NBC’s coverage of the NCAA can tune in via Peacock.
Can I Watch College Basktball Internationally?
Don’t want to worry about in-market and local restrictions? There’s a simple workaround, watching college basketball internationally! Simply connect to a server in another country and watch it from there.
For example, DAZN offers NCAA Basketball streaming in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. If you sign up for DAZN in one of those countries, you’ll be able to watch all tournament games you want, without worrying about blackouts.
We should warn you, you’ll potentially lose access to your favorite US commentary.
Have any additional questions? Let us know what we can answer for you!
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