Andrew Pace
The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, is an annual basketball tournament featuring 68 teams. The tournament begins with four play-in games to reduce the field to 64 teams, which then compete in four regional tournaments of 16 teams each. The winners of these regional tournaments advance to the Final Four, which is one of the most exciting parts of the tournament. The Final Four games are televised on different channels each year, with CBS and TBS alternating broadcasting rights. In 2024, the men's Final Four was scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 6, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with UConn, Alabama, Purdue, and NC State vying for the championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, April 5, 2025 |
| Location | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas |
| Channels | CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Paramount+, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV |
| Teams | Florida, Auburn, Houston, Duke |
| Start time | 6:09 pm and 8:49 pm ET |
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What You'll Learn
The 2024 NCAA Tournament
UConn defeated Illinois to secure its spot, while Alabama advanced by defeating Clemson. Purdue beat Tennessee to advance to the Final Four, and NC State earned its place by defeating Duke. This is NC State's first Final Four since winning the championship in 1983.
For those with a cable subscription, the tournament will be shown across four channels: CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. Alternatively, streaming services such as Max and Paramount Plus with Showtime offer more affordable options to watch the games live. With the $10-per-month Max streaming service, viewers can watch the games broadcast on TBS, TNT, and TruTV. The Paramount Plus with Showtime plan, at $13 per month, will provide access to CBS games, including the Final Four semifinal games and the national championship game.
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Where to watch the Final Four
The Final Four is one of the most exciting parts of March Madness, and you won't want to miss it. The men's and women's Final Four games are aired on different channels, so make sure you take note of the correct one.
The men's Final Four alternates between CBS and TBS each year. In 2024, the men's Final Four was aired on CBS, with TBS and TNT simulcasting the final three games. CBS Sports and Turner Sports also stream the games on their digital platforms, including March Madness Live. You can also watch the games on live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
For the 2025 tournament, the men's Final Four will be aired on CBS, while the women's Final Four will remain on ESPN. The women's games will be held on Friday, April 4, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, and the men's doubleheader will take place on Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
If you want to watch the games without a cable subscription, you can sign up for a streaming service. Max streaming service ($10 a month) will allow you to watch the games on TBS, TNT, and TruTV, while Paramount Plus with Showtime ($13 a month) will give you access to the CBS games, including the Final Four semifinal games and the national championship game.
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CBS and Turner Sports
For the 2024 tournament, CBS and TBS led the way, televising 21 games each, while TruTV and TNT carried 13 and 12 games, respectively. The Final Four was simulcast across TBS and TNT, and the final three games were also available to stream on the March Madness Live app and Max's B/R Sports Add-On. CBS Sports and TNT Sports provided coverage from the Selection Sunday Show to the playing of "One Shining Moment" after the champion was crowned.
The 2025 tournament will be broadcast across four cable networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. It will also be streamed on Paramount+. The tournament can be accessed on any streaming service that includes these channels, such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV. Many games will also be broadcast on local CBS affiliates and can be viewed with a digital antenna without a cable or streaming subscription.
The men's Final Four alternates between CBS and TBS each year, with 2025 being a CBS year.
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The Final Four announcers
- Ernie Johnson
- Charles Barkley
- Kenny Smith
- Jalen Rose
CBS announcers include:
- Brad Nessler
- Andrew Catalon
- Tom McCarthy
- Jim Spanarkel
- Bill Raftery
- Dan Bonner
- Steve Lappas
- Brendan Haywood
- Tracy Wolfson
- Evan Washburn
- A.J. Ross
- Jon Rothstein
- Gene Steratore
Announcers from other networks who are also lent to CBS and Turner Sports include:
- Lisa Byington
- Robbie Hummel
- Debbie Antonelli
- Jamie Erdahl
- Andy Katz
The lead play-by-play announcer for the Final Four is Ian Eagle, who replaced Jim Nantz in 2023. Eagle will be joined by Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and reporter Tracy Wolfson.
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The Final Four schedule
The Final Four is one of the most exciting parts of March Madness, and the 2024 tournament is no exception. The 2024 men's NCAA Tournament Final Four will take place on Saturday, April 6, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The tip-off times are scheduled for 6:09 p.m. and 8:49 p.m. ET. The four teams that have made it to the Final Four are UConn, Alabama, Purdue, and NC State. UConn will be looking to repeat as champions, but they will have to get through a tough field that includes the surging NC State Wolfpack, who are looking for their first title since 1983.
The games will be broadcast across four cable networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. CBS and TBS will lead the way, televising 21 games each, while truTV and TNT will carry 13 and 12 games, respectively. The Final Four games will be simulcast across TBS and TNT. For those without a cable subscription, the games can also be streamed live with a streaming service. The most affordable option is to sign up for a month of two streaming services: Max and Paramount Plus with Showtime. For $23, you can watch every March Madness game live. With the $10 a month Max streaming service, you can watch the games broadcast on TBS, TNT, and TruTV. With the $13 a month Paramount Plus with Showtime plan, you'll be able to watch the CBS games, which include both Final Four semifinal games and the national championship game.
For those looking for a more comprehensive streaming option, YouTube TV costs $83 a month and includes CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. They are currently offering a discounted rate of $70 a month for the first six months, as well as a free 21-day trial. This is a great option for those who want to watch multiple games at once, as it is the only service that offers multiview.
So there you have it, everything you need to know about the Final Four schedule and how to watch the games. Now it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the thrilling action of March Madness!
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Frequently asked questions
The Final Four Men's Basketball games will be broadcast on CBS and TBS.
The games will be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The games will take place on Saturday, April 5.
The teams that will be playing are Florida vs. Auburn and Houston vs. Duke.
The games can be streamed on Paramount+ and any streaming service with access to CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV, such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
