March Madness channel lineup
Watch the March Madness 2026 games on these DISH channels:
- CBS (Local channel, varies by market)
- TBS: Channel 139
- TNT: Channel 138
- truTV: Channel 242
Watch college basketball on DISH
Your complete viewing guide
As sports fans, we know there's nothing like the excitement of college hoops. Whether it's a mid-week conference rivalry or the height of the tournament, here is how you can catch every game on DISH.
Best DISH packages for college basketball fans
DISH offers multiple package tiers, so you can choose the best fit for your interests. For serious college basketball fans, we recommend America's Top 200 or higher to ensure you get all conference networks and never miss your team's games.
- America's Top 120: A great choice for casual fans who want to catch the biggest games, you get ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and CBS Sports Network with this package.
- America's Top 200: All the channels you get with America’s Top 120, plus ESPNU, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and ACC Network. This package is essential for fans who follow specific conferences or want comprehensive coverage.
- America's Top 250: Includes everything in the other packages, plus additional sports channels to give you the most comprehensive coverage of all your favorite teams.
DISH packages for college basketball
2-year price guarantee requires credit qualification and 2-year commitment and covers core programming, local networks, and equipment. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification
What channel is college basketball on DISH?
Here are the essential channels for watching NCAA basketball on DISH Network:
- ESPN: Channel 140
- ESPN2: Channel 143
- ESPNU: Channel 141
- FS1: Channel 150
- CBS Sports Network: Channel 158
- Big Ten Network: Channel 405
- SEC Network: Channel 404
- ACC Network: Channel 402
Note: CBS (local channel) will also broadcast select games throughout the season and all Final Four games. Channel numbers for CBS vary by market. Find your local channels here.
How to watch the 2026 NCAA basketball tournament on DISH
March Madness 2026 starts on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Never miss a game with DISH Multi-View
Make your home the place to catch every game with DISH Mult-View.
With the DISH Hopper, you can watch up to four games at once—a crucial feature to keep up with the excitement of the tournament.
Live stream NCAA basketball with DISH Anywhere
Traveling during March Madness? Don't miss a single tournament game. Stream every CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV broadcast live on the DISH Anywhere app from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Stream live or recorded games
- Free to download with your DISH login
- Available on phone, tablet, or laptop
Watching live and recorded TV anywhere requires an internet-connected Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 and compatible mobile device.
Use DISH Game Finder to track your favorite teams
Expert tip: Use the Game Finder app on your DISH Hopper (Channel 152) to see live scores and jump directly to games. That way, you won’t miss a second of the action.
- Press 'Guide' on your DISH remote
- Select 'Sports' or navigate to Channel 152
- Browse live games or set your favorite college basketball teams
- Select any game to jump directly to that channel
Frequently asked questions
About college basketball on TV
What channel is college basketball on?
To watch college basketball on TV during the regular season, try ESPN channels, any channels run by major college basketball conferences (e.g., Big Ten, or SEC), and regional sports networks (e.g., beIN). To watch during the tournament, tune in to CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV, which have exclusive coverage rights through 2023.
The easiest way to find college basketball games on TV today is by using the Game Finder App on the DISH Hopper 3 Whole-Home DVR. You can search for specific teams or browse schedules by sport.
Another easy way to find NCAA basketball TV channels is through voice search. Just use your DISH Voice Remote or Amazon Echo to search for terms like “college basketball on TV tonight” and instantly find results.
How do I watch college basketball?
You can watch college basketball games either on TV or over online streaming. With DISH, you can do both. Sign up today to watch more college ball and follow the conferences, teams, and players you care about.
How many people watch college basketball?
A ton. In 2018, about 1 in 3 adults through age 64 watched at least one college basketball game on broadcast TV. In 2019, about 19.6 million viewers watched the championship game of the NCAA basketball tournament on TV. That’s a lot of college basketball fans tuning in.
How long does a college basketball game last on TV?
Most college basketball games on TV run about 2 hours. It’s common for them to run over the allotted time, and sports networks usually stay with the first game until it’s over. But sometimes, the start of the second game is available on another channel.
In that situation, the DISH Hopper 3 Whole-Home DVR comes in handy—you can use Picture-in-Picture or MultiView mode to watch both games at once, or you can simply record the second game from its proper start time and watch what you missed later.