Last year marked the first ever cancellation of March Madness, as the annual NCAA basketball institution found itself an early victim of the global Covid-19 sports shutdown. So it's with a big smile that we welcome Spring collegiate hoops action back to the fray in 2021 - and maybe just a bit of guilt at how long we spent perfecting our bracket this week. Read on as we explain how to watch a March Madness live stream for every game of the NCAA basketball tournament wherever you are right now.
Tournament dates: March 18 to April 5
Where is March Madness? Various venues in Indiana
FREE global live stream: ESPN Player free trial (UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa) | Kayo Sports free trial (AUS)
US TV coverage: stream CBS live with FREE Paramount Plus trial | get TNT, TBS and TruTV on Sling TV
Watch anywhere: grab our No. 1 rated VPN 100% risk-free
From the March Madness Selection Sunday date of March 14 right through the Final Four and NCAA Championship Game, 2021's tourney will be unlike any other in the competition's illustrious history, featuring no defending champs and with every last game being played in generally inoffensive Indiana.
That's 67 games in all on the 2021 March Madness schedule set to rain down on Covid-secure grand stages like the Lucas Oil Stadium...Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Hold up a sec while we catch our breath...
And we're back. All of these prestige venues are located in the Hoosier State, where an NCAA midwestern microbubble is being concocted for the safety of everyone involved - and perhaps to evoke some nostalgia among the players, reminding the next-generation of NBA stars what it was like shooting ball before they hit the big-time.
Newer powerhouse schools like Gonzaga and Baylor enter the tournament among the favorites, alongside more established collegiate sports forces such as Tom Brady's alma mater Michigan. Look at the latest 2021 March Madness odds and this is the trio tipped most likely to win it all - which means precisely zilch as the whole point of the annual NCAA basketball shindig is that March Madness breeds historic upsets and Cinderella stories from the very start.
Follow our guide below for where to watch a March Madness live stream and catch all the NCAA hoops action online from anywhere - including some great ways to watch March Madness free online in certain countries, if you draw up the right play.
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How to watch March Madness 2021: live stream NCAA basketball with ESPN Player
In some countries, you may be baffled by the fact that NCAA college basketball is just as popular as the NBA among some fans. If you want to know what all the fuss is about or are just a US expat living abroad that's desperate to root for their school, then ESPN Player is the way to watch a March Madness live stream in many countries around the world.
It's available in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, coming in at the very reasonable price of £9.99/€11.99 for the next month (or £69.99/€79.99 for a whole year).
That gets you live and on-demand coverage of every single March Madness 2021 game, as well as access to other live sports events, ESPN originals and ESPN Films. The service also supports both desktop and mobile, so you’ll never miss any of the action, no matter where you.
Best of all, anyone in one of the service's covered countries can try a FREE 7-day ESPN Player trial to see if they like it or not - one of the few legitimate ways to watch NCAA March Madness free online this month.
How to watch NCAA March Madness live stream from outside your country
If you're currently abroad or there's no official broadcast option in your country, then you’ll need to use a VPN to dial in to a location that does let you watch March Madness online in the same way you would at home.
A VPN is perfect for this, as it allows you to change your IP address so you appear to be in your country of residence, where you usual streaming services and subscriptions are based. You may be surprised by how easy it easy to get stared using one, too.
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How to watch March Madness: live stream 2021 NCAA basketball online in the US
If you plan on watching a March Madness 2021 live stream in the US for every game of this year's tournament, then you’ll need a cable package or streaming service with access to the following four channels: CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV.
They're all available on cable, of course - but for cord cutters, catching all the NCAA basketball action is just as easy with an over-the-top streamer like Sling TV.
The Sling TV Orange package costs just $35 a month and includes TBS, TNT and TruTV - meaning only CBS is missing. Plus, Sling usually offers new subscribers a bargain - right now you can save big bucks with this Sling TV deal.
For the truly dedicated, CBS is also readily streamed online. The network just rebranded its digital platform as Paramount Plus and, for those interested, there's a FREE 30-day trial on offer for a limited time that nets you its live March Madness coverage.
Not in the US right now? You can watch a March Madness live stream just like you would if you were at home by using a VPN. Further details on how that works can be found below.
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March Madness live stream 2021: how to watch NCAA basketball online in Canada
If you want to stream college basketball and watch March Madness 2021 online in Canada, TSN is the home of most of the NCAA hoops action this month.
Its TSN Direct streaming service can be had from just $7.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month and can be purchased by anyone - regardless of whether you have the channel as part of a pay TV package in the country or not.
Having said that, existing subscribers should note they can log-in to watch TSN live streams at no extra charge with details of their provider. There's also an app for convenient on-the-go streaming, an annual plan deal that saves you some serious money, and the very Canadian problem of all stated pricing being before tax.
Canadian abroad? Then you can use a VPN to magically find themselves back in Canada to live stream March Madness coverage just like they would at home.
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How to watch March Madness UK: live stream NCAA basketball online
Hoops fans based in the UK can watch every shot of the 2021 March Madness basketball using ESPN Player, the network giant's international streaming-only service.
It costs just £9.99 a month and offers a FREE 7-day trial, so you can watch the next round of on-court action without paying a penny.
However, if you’re a BT Sport subscriber or thinking of becoming one, know that the broadcaster will be showing the college basketball action this March on TV and via its app.
Away from the UK? Stream ESPN Player and all your other usual services wherever you are with the help of a quality VPN.
March Madness live stream: how to watch 2021 NCAA basketball tournament online in Australia
Basketball fans Down Under will find that premium TV provider Foxtel is the holder of NCAA hoops rights for March Madness 2021.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it means most if not all of the action will be available to stream online through slick streaming platform Kayo.
Newbies can take advantage of a FREE Kayo trial to see if the service is right for them. For those who decide to keep it, Kayo price plans start from a super affordable AUD$25 a month - really good value considering how much premium live sports action it hosts.
In addition to being where to watch March Madness NCAA basketball online in Australia this year, it's also your Six Nations live stream home for the rugby and much more.
Not in Australia? Aussies abroad looking to watch a March Madness live stream should find that a good VPN helps them access their home streaming services wherever they are.
Please note: Australia's digital borders are among the most robust in the world and even the best VPN services couldn't always effectively access Oz-based streaming sites like Kayo from abroad, based on our latest March 2021 testing.
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