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Basketball fans are familiar with TNT for a good reason. This year, the NCAA men's basketball tournament returns to the channel.
TNT is bringing March Madness games to a TV near you all tournament-long, sharing broadcasting responsibilities with truTV, TBS and CBS this year.
As the tournament gets underway, TNT is prepared to showcase the best games of the first and second rounds.
Here's how you can watch it all with channel numbers and a broadcast schedule.
What channel is TNT?
The NCAA agreed to a multi-billion dollar deal with CBS and TNT Sports in April of 2010 regarding the rights to the men's NCAA Tournament. That deal worked out for everybody, so it was extended through 2032.
Fans wanting to watch the excitement of March Madness can find games on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV. Here's how to find TNT on every cable and satellite provider:
| Provider | Channel (SD/HD) |
| AT&T UVerse | 108/1108 |
| Verizon FIOS | 51/551 |
| DISH Network | 138 |
| DirecTV | 245 |
| Spectrum | Varies by location (area code search) |
| Xfinity | Varies by location (area code search) |
How to live stream March Madness games for free online
With the rise in streaming popularity, cord-cutters certainly have a fair share of options when it comes to streaming March Madness games. NCAA Tournament games will be available to watch on DirecTV, as well as handful of other services.
Below is a full rundown (not every option includes TNT, TBS and truTV):
| Streaming option | Cable subscription needed? | Free? | Cost | Free trial? |
| Paramount+ | No | No | $8.99/month | No |
| NCAA March Madness Live | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Fubo | No | No | $55.99/month | Yes |
| DirecTV | No | No | $89.99/month | Yes |
NCAA Tournament games on TNT
Eight games will air on TNT throughout the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
First Round
Thursday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida | 1:30 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
| No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota Sttae | 4:05 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
| No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
| No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn | 9:25 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
Friday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU | 1:35 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
| No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State | 4:10 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
| No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa | 6:50 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
| No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh | 9:25 p.m. | TNT, DirecTV |
NCAA Tournament round-by-round schedule 2026
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on March 18 and March 19, and it concludes with the championship game on April 6.
See below for a complete round-by-round schedule.
| Round | Dates |
| First Four | March 17-18 |
| First Round | March 19-20 |
| Second Round | March 21-22 |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 |
| Final Four | April 4 |
| Championship | April 6 |
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