Watching March Madness on Sling TV: all you need to know

The cheapest way to catch the March Madness action in the US

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

March Madness is one of the most anticipated events of the sporting calendar and millions across the US will be looking to get a reliableMarch Madness live streamthis month.

For bargain hunters,Sling TVwill be a very appealing option indeed, offering a cheap and effective way to stream most games without the hassle of a traditional cable plan. And, what’s more, you can currently claim$10 off your first month, bringing the price down to just $25.

While we can’t tell you who to plump for in your bracket, what wecando is share the cheapest way to watch every game of the tourney. Here, we’ll explain how to get March Madness on Sling TV, what it’ll cost you, and a clever workaround that’ll get you every game of March Madness for less than any rival streamer.

Is March Madness on Sling TV?

As usual, this year’s March Madness will be broadcast across four channels – CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV.

Sling TV has two different plans, Orange and Blue, but for March Madness you’ll only need tosign up to Sling TV Bluewhich carries TNT, TBS, and TruTV. That means that Sling TV will be broadcasting 49 of the 67 games – including the semis and the national championship game – only missing out on those broadcast on CBS.

Don’t despair, though – to get access to the games shown on CBS, all you need to do is sign up for Paramount Plus, whichcosts just $9.99 a monthand also includes a free trial. We’ll get into the details of the pricing below, but suffice to say this combo is still far cheaper than any other alternative that carries all the networks in one package.

How much is it to get March Madness on Sling TV?

Sling TV’s most appealing feature is its pricing, pure and simple. Compared to rivals such asFuboTV,Hulu with Live TV, orYouTube TV, it’s an absolute bargain.

Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.

Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.

Both its Orange and Blue plans usually cost a flat $35 a month each, but Sling is currently running a promotion that knocks an extra $10 off your first month –working out at just $25. Plus, thanks to the fact that Sling TV Blue offers all the basketball-relevant networks on Sling’s roster, it’s the only one you need.

If you want full access to every channel Sling offers, you’ll get a discount which brings the overall price to $50 a month for Orange and Blue – but that’s not necessary in order to watch the college basketball.

Of course, those that want every single game will require CBS local channels, too. The cheapest way to get access to the network (and therefore every March Madness game not available on Sling) is tosign up to Paramount Plusfor $9.99 a month, plus a free trial.

At anall-in price of $34.99, this combo works out a hefty $30 cheaper than the closest competitor. It might not be absolutely ideal, but the very minor inconvenience is well worth the saving in our books.

What territories is Sling TV showing March Madness?

Unlike some other high-profile sporting events (Super Bowl, we’re looking at you!), no networks broadcasting March Madness are restricted to ‘selected markets’, and no games are subject to blackouts.

So, as long as you’re in the US, you’ll be able to catch every second of March Madness as it happens.

What devices are compatible with Sling TV?

Sling TV has great compatibility with a whole load of devices, which means that whatever you’re using and wherever you are, you should be able to get a stream.

For Windows PC or Mac users, all you need to do is log in on the Sling TV website and get streaming from your browser. If you’re usingAppleTV,Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Android, iOS, TiVo, Xfinity or just about any other device, you’ll be able to download a dedicated app.

For a full list, head through to Sling’s page onsupported devices, but whatever you’re using, you shouldn’t have much of an issue tuning in.

Where else can I see March Madness?

As outlined above, to watch every game of March Madness you’ll need access to CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV – a combination that relatively few streaming services offer.

YouTubeTV is one of those, and does offer a wider range of channels overall than Sling, but at $64.99 a month it’s considerably more costly. Hulu with Live TV also runs the gamut of networks, but at $69.99 it’s even pricier.

Surprisingly, sports-focused FuboTV doesn’t offer TNT, TBS, or TruTV. So, while it’s a great option for most sporting events, it’s a no-go for anyone wanting to watch a wide variety of March Madness games.

Mo Harber-Lamond is VPN Editor at Tom’s Guide, and contributor for TechRadar. He focuses on cybersecurity content for Tom’s Guide, and creates insightful content across the board to help readers make informed buying choices.

I’m canceling Prime Video for Apple TV Plus this month – here are 5 reasons why

Arcane season 2 was reportedly going to run for five seasons, so why is my all-time favorite Netflix show ending after two?

Watch out, Nvidia - new benchmarks suggest Apple M4 Ultra could beat the mighty RTX 4090