UPDATE: Sorry, everyone.
March Madness is cancelled this year, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak.
The NCAA released the following statement on Thursday afternoon:
"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.
This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities."
Original Story:
Sixty-eight teams.
Seven rounds.
Sixty-seven games.
Single elimination.
One winner.
Buzzer-beating shots, upsets, and Cinderella stories; March Madness is back, folks.
This year's NCAA Championship Tournament will work a little differently than usual, though.
Because of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak, no spectators will be allowed at the games.
That means teams will be playing in an empty arena, and you'll have to tune in on TV or via the internet.
This year's television schedule is split across the four traditional channels: CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV.
However, if you don't have a TV and cable packages, the tournament is also available through apps, media devices, and streaming video platforms.
Watch Online With a Cable Subscription
The NCAA has made things a little less chaotic the last few years by centralizing all tourney streaming in the March Madness Live web-based app.
For desktop viewers covertly streaming games next to that super important email or spreadsheet tab, the main web app is your best bet.
It works on both the desktop and mobile web.
However, the March Madness Live app does come with some caveats depending on which network is airing which game.
The games televised by CBS will all be available for free through the app without requiring a cable login, but for the three Turner-owned channels (TNT, TBS, and truTV) you'll need a cable or satellite login to access the live stream.
Alas, even if you don't own a TV anymore, you're still subject to its whims.
Make sure to check the full TV schedule not only for what time games start during the first few rounds of the tourney, but which network is airing them.
If you've got a cable login, this is still the best and most widely available way to stream March Madness games.
You also get extra features such as Fast Break, which breaks down all the games being played in any one location, plus matchup breakdowns with the BracketIQ tool, instant highlights, and real-time stats and analysis.
March Madness Live Everywhere
If you're not watching on a desktop computer, live-streamed games are available on a slew of other officially supported devices and platforms. You can download the March Madness Live app for your smartphone, tablet, smart TV, or media streaming device.
Be aware that any game broadcast by Turner will still require login credentials to watch. Check out the full list of supported devices and services below:
Another way to stay up on the latest March Madness news and scores is through your Amazon Echo device.
The NCAA released an official March Madness skill you can enable to ask Alexa what games are on, the score of a particular match-up, or even how your bracket is doing.
The Best Video-Streaming App Deals This Week*
Options for Cord Cutters
If you want to watch every game without worrying about network broadcasts and login credentials, true cord cutters can turn to one of several live TV streaming services, most of which have free trials if you're really desperate to stream the games without paying:
- Sling TV is available on a variety of streaming devices offering two different subscription packages, starting at $20 per month. Sling Blue package subscribers have access to all three Turner channels—TBS, TNT, and truTV—and Sling Orange customers have TNT and TBS and can add truTV for $5 per month with the Comedy Extra add-on.
Sling TV also comes with a one-week trial if you want to sign up just for the tournament. - CBS All Access subscribers can live stream all the games broadcast on CBS. CBS All Access is priced at $5.99 a month (or $59.99 a year) with limited commercials or as an ad-free version for $9.99 a month (or $99.99 a year).
- AT&T TV Now has a $65/month base Plus package that gives you access to TBS, TNT, and truTV and a channel lookup tool to find a live CBS feed in your area.
- Hulu With Live TV gets you all four channels for $54.99 per month with ads ($60.99 without ads).
- YouTube TV gives you access to CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV for $49.99 per month.
- FuboTV offers TNT, TBS, and truTV with a free trial, or pay $54.99 per month.
If you're watching outside the US and games are unavailable in your country, fire up a VPN.
Set the region to a location in the US to access local streaming content.
If you're watching on-the-go, check out our best VPNs for iPhones and Android devices.
