After an exciting opening two rounds, March Madness is already living up to its name. In a joint statement, CBS Sports and TNT Sports say the 2026 NCAA Tournament opened with the most-watched first-round opening day ever.
Thursday’s coverage across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV averaged 9.8 million viewers, up 6% from last year. Paramount+ and HBO Max simulstream CBS Sports and TNT Sports, respectively. The primetime window, powered by Michigan-Howard and VCU-North Carolina, drew 12.5 million viewers and set another first-round record.
With the hot start, March Madness remains one of the most reliable live sports events on TV. The tournament continues to roll forward, with more games still ahead and fans still chasing bracket glory, Cinderella runs, and late-night buzzer-beaters.
March Madness 2026 Rolls On
The Sweet 16 tips off on March 26, and cord cutters can follow the action without paying full price. Paramount+ is offering a limited-time deal that drops Paramount+ Premium to $2.99 per month for two months. With the promo, you’re paying just $5.98 total for two months instead of CBS Sports coverage the usual $17.98+.
The promotion is available to new and returning subscribers, runs through March 31, and lines up neatly with tournament viewing for fans who want a cheaper way to keep up with CBS coverage and other live sports. Add the HBO Max Standard plan to your streaming lineup, and unlock full coverage of March’s largest college basketball tournament for under $22 per month.
The Streaming Future of March Madness
There is also a bigger industry story unfolding behind the bracket. Paramount has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, with the deal expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 if regulators and shareholders approve it. Paramount+ and HBO Max are expected to eventually merge into one streaming platform after the corporate deal closes.
For March Madness fans, the near-term picture should stay familiar because the NCAA’s rights agreement with CBS and TNT Sports runs through 2032. There are discussions of the NCAA expanding the tournament up to 76 teams, adding more games to the streamers. But in the longer term, a merged Paramount-WBD streaming strategy could change how games are packaged, bundled, and surfaced for viewers. That is an inference, not a confirmed plan, but it is easy to see how one larger streaming destination could eventually simplify access to a tournament that already spans broadcast and streaming.
For now, the big takeaway is that March Madness is off to a historic start. The action is still going on with the Sweet Sixteen, and viewers have a timely chance to save on Paramount+ while the tournament heats up.