The biggest college basketball tournament of the year is down to the final 16 teams! The 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen starts on Thursday, March 23, and wraps Friday, March 24, with the winners set to make up the Elite Eight.
Fans looking to stream the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen live will need access to Paramount+ for CBS games, and SlingTV for TBS matchups. This combo works out to be the most cost effective package, though you can use free trials on platforms like YouTube TV and FuboTV.
If you’re traveling outside the United States, you’ll need a VPN to access streams. Here’s how to watch the NCAA Sweet Sixteen from anywhere:
- Pick a reliable VPN for HD streaming. Surfshark never lets us down.
- Create an account.
- Download the VPN app onto your device.
- Log into the VPN app with the credentials you created during sign-up.
- Connect to a server in the US. Surfshark has a ton of servers to choose from.
- Visit your chosen streaming service site. For TBS, we can recommend Sling TV. If you’re preferred game is on CBS, go for Paramount+.
If you want to avoid signing up to streaming service, try out our list of the best free sports streaming sites instead.
Check out the rest of our article for a complete list of streaming services along with details about free trials. We’ve also put together more useful information such as the NCAA Tournament schedule for reference.
The biggest college basketball tournament of the year is underway, with the top 16 teams in the United States left standing. The 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen will take place on Thursday, March 23, and Friday, March 24. The winners will face off in the Elite Eight this weekend.
This year’s tournament has had its share of upsets and fairytale runs, led by 15th seed Princeton. Big names like Kentucky, Duke, and UNC are already out, and only two 1 seeds, Alabama and Houston, remain.
The road to the 2023 NCAA championship enters its final stages and we’ve got all the information you need to watch the NCAA Sweet Sixteen games live from anywhere.
How to Stream the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen Live
CBS and TBS will each carry four NCAA Sweet Sixteen games this year. So, if you want to stream the NCAA tournament live, you’ll need access to a service that carries both of these channels.
For CBS, we recommend using Paramount+, which starts at $5. SlingTV is a great option for watching the games live on TBS. This combination works out to be the most cost-effective way to stream the NCAA Sweet Sixteen live.
You can also watch the NCAA tournament basketball games for free by making use of free trials. Services such as YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream offer limited-period free trials and carry both CBS and TBS.
Note: Free trials only work with new subscribers, so make sure you use a new email address when signing up. Furthermore, you’ll have to put down a payment method like a credit card or PayPal, even for free trials.
Here’s a table of the top streaming sites to watch the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen:
| Service | March Madness Broadcast | Price per month | Free trial? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | CBS | $5-$10 | Seven-day free trial |
| Sling TV | TBS | $40-$55 | No |
| YouTube TV | CBS, TBS | $65 | 14-day free trial |
| DIRECTV STREAM | CBS, TBS | $75-$155 | Five-day free trial |
| Hulu + Live TV | CBS, TBS | $70-$83 | No |
If you’re looking for free streams which don’t require signing up, you can try out some of the options from this list of the best free sports streaming sites.
Where to watch 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen (outside the United States)
There’s nothing quite like March Madness, so it’s no surprise that the NCAA tournament is popular outside the United States as well. Here are the official broadcasters of the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in Australia, Canada, and the UK:
| Country | March Madness Broadcast | Price per month |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Kayo Sports | AUD 5 |
| Canada | TSN | $19.99 |
| United Kingdom | ESPN+ | £8.25 |
How to Watch the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen from Anywhere
If you opt for a U.S.-based streaming service, you’ll find that you cannot access any of the websites from our list from outside the country. To overcome these geo-blocks, you’ll need an American IP address.
A simple and convenient way to do so is by using a virtual private network or VPN, which lets you change your device’s IP address and make it seem like you’re visiting a website from a permitted location. Here’s how you can use a VPN to stream the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen live from anywhere:
1. Get a Surfshark subscription
We do not like to compromise when it comes to live sports streaming. After all, it is important to watch sports in high quality and without any lags. Over the years, we’ve tried out over 70+ VPN services and found that Surfshark is the best for streaming sports.
Here are a few reasons why Surfshark is our choice for watching the 2023 NCAA Tournament:
- More than 600 USA servers in 15 different cities
- Static IP addresses for streaming servers in New York
- Super fast, WireGuard-powered connection speeds
- 30-day money-back guarantee
The Surfshark app is available on major app stores and popular operating systems. You also use it with your router or Smart TV with ease. Simple sign-up to the service, download the app, log-in, and connect to a server. Its that simple!
New to VPNs? The Surfshark user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate.
Pro tip: Try out Surfshark for free by using their 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Choose a server in the United States
Open the app and you’ll find a search box. Enter the country or region of choice here and Surfshark will provide a list of server options. Click on your preferred server to connect.
In a matter of seconds, you’ll see a message that reads, “Protected. Your connection is safe.” This means your connection is now active.
Note: Never compromise on online privacy and security. Surfshark ranks among the best VPNs in these categories thanks to its advanced encryption for your data and anonymous IP addresses. The company recently hired the accounting firm Deloitte to independently verify its no-logs policy.
3. Choose a streaming platform and get a subscription
All that’s left to do now is to select the right streaming platform for the job. For reference, here are some of the options we mentioned earlier.
- Sling TV (TBS)
- Paramount+ (CBS)
- YouTube TV (CBS and TBS)
- Hulu + Live TV (CBS and TBS)
- DIRECTV STREAM (CBS and TBS)
Note: Make sure you are connected to a U.S. server with your VPN before you visit the streaming site to avoid geo-blocking restrictions.
SlingTV is one of our preferred streaming platforms. Here’s how you can watch the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen using SlingTV:
- Connect to a Surfshark server in the US.
- Head over to Sling TV. You’ll need the Blue pack or the Orange pack for TBS.
- Navigate to TBS and look for the 2023 Men’s NCAA Tournament.
- Enjoy the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen game live!
Note: If your game of choice is on CBS, simply follow the same process with Paramount+ instead.
2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen: What to Expect
At least one 1-seeded team has made it to every Elite Eight since 1979, and both Alabama and Houston will aim to keep the streak alive. The Crimson Tide, led by Brandon Miller, Jahvon Quinerly, and 7-footer Charles Bediako, remains the favorite to win it all.
Fans will also pay close attention to Princeton in its match-up against Creighton. Princeton is just the third 15-seed in tournament history to make the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
Drew Timme and the Zags own the longest active win streak in the country at 11 games. However, Gonzaga will have to answer questions about its defense against a strong UCLA side.
Predicting the NCAA tournament is a task reserved only for the bold. There are bound to be more upsets and bracket-busters going forward. In fact, 11 out of the 16 remaining teams have never won the tournament before, which means we could have ourselves a new champion on April 3.
2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen Schedule
Here’s a list of matchups for the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen:
| Day and Date | Time (ET) | Match-up | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 23 | 6:30 p.m. | Kansas State vs. Michigan State | TBS |
| Thursday, March 23 | 7:15 p.m. | UConn vs. Arkansas | CBS |
| Thursday, March 23 | 9:00 p.m. | Tennessee vs. Florida Atlantic | TBS |
| Thursday, March 23 | 9:45 p.m. | UCLA vs. Gonzaga | CBS |
| Friday, March 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Alabama vs. San Diego State | TBS |
| Friday, March 24 | 7:15 p.m. | Houston vs. Miami | CBS |
| Friday, March 24 | 9:00 p.m. | Creighton vs. Princeton | TBS |
| Friday, March 24 | 9:45 p.m. | Texas vs. Xavier | CBS |
2023 NCAA Tournament Schedule
Make sure you take note of the dates for the remainder of the Tournament, with the Elite Eight set for this weekend!
| Round | Date | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet 16 | March 23-24, 2023 | CBS, TBS |
| Elite Eight | March 25-26, 2023 | CBS, TBS |
| Final Four | April 1, 2023 | CBS |
| National Championship | April 3, 2023 | CBS |
