tru tv is the launch point for the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship broadcast, with the NCAA First Four tipping off Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18 at 6 PM ET. From there, the tournament’s first-round coverage shifts into full-day windows on Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20 at Noon ET, with games available live across four national television networks.
What Happens When Tru Tv opens the First Four?
The First Four begins the tournament’s on-air schedule, and the opening two nights are set to air on Tru Tv. The First Four takes place across Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18, with the daily start time listed as 6 PM ET for both days.
On the court, the tournament gets going with two games on the first day and two games on the second day, with the First Four staged in Dayton, Ohio. One of the opening matchups is UMBC vs. Howard, with Texas vs. NC State later the same night. The listed tip times for those two games are 6: 40 PM ET and 9: 15 PM ET.
What If you want the full First Round TV and streaming map?
The first round begins immediately after the First Four, with coverage windows starting Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20 at Noon ET on both days. All games are set to be carried live in their entirety across four national television networks: TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV, alongside NCAA March Madness Live.
For viewers using streaming options tied to the broadcast networks, the streaming availability is split by where the game airs. Games airing on CBS will also stream live on Paramount+. Games airing on TBS, TNT and truTV will also stream live on HBO Max.
What Happens next after the first round windows?
Beyond the first round, tip times for Saturday’s Second Round games are scheduled to be announced after the conclusion of Thursday’s games, and Sunday’s tip times are scheduled to be released after the conclusion of play on Friday.
Later in the tournament, the Men’s Final Four National Semifinals on Saturday, April 4, and the Men’s National Championship on Monday, April 6, are set to air on TBS.
As the 2026 NCAA tournament schedule advances from the opening play-in games into the first-round windows, Tru Tv remains a key part of the four-network rotation carrying every game live, from the First Four start through the broader national broadcast slate.
