Best Streaming Services to Watch March Madness (2026)
Sling TV vs DIRECTV Stream vs Paramount+
Best Streaming Services for Sports Fans (2026)
Published: March 10, 2026 | Team10Sports | Prices verified & updated
Why Cord-Cutting Fans Need the Right Streaming Service
The way sports fans watch their favorite teams has completely changed. Traditional cable packages now cost upward of $100–$150 per month, and millions of fans are cutting the cord in search of smarter, cheaper alternatives. But not every streaming service is built the same way for sports.
Miss the wrong channel, and you’re locked out of Monday Night Football. Pick the wrong plan, and you can’t watch your college team. With March Madness in full swing right now and the FIFA World Cup 2026 just months away, getting this right matters more than ever.
This guide breaks down Sling TV, DIRECTV Stream, and Paramount+ with verified current pricing, honest tradeoffs, and clear picks for every type of sports fan.
Sling TV
Sling TV — The Flexible Budget Option
Sling TV remains the most customizable live TV streaming service in 2026. Rather than paying for 200 channels you don’t watch, Sling lets you build around the channels you actually need. It splits into Orange (ESPN-focused) and Blue (FOX/NBC-focused) plans — for most fans, the combo is the best value.
Current Pricing — Updated February 20, 2026
| Plan | Price/Month | Key Sports Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Sling Orange | $45.99 | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU — 1 stream |
| Sling Blue | $49.99 ↑ Raised Feb 2026 | FOX, NBC (select markets), NFL Network, FS1, FS2 — 3 streams |
| Orange + Blue | $64.99 ↑ Raised Feb 2026 | All channels above — best sports combo, 4 streams |
| Sling Select | $19.99 | NFL Network, FS1, FOX News — no ESPN, no CBS |
Sports Extra Add-On (+$11/mo): Adds NFL RedZone, NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, Golf Channel, SEC Network, and more.
Honest Weakness: No CBS & No Turner Networks
Sling has never carried CBS — meaning no NFL Sunday AFC games and no CBS March Madness coverage. Sling also dropped TNT/TBS/truTV in 2026, which affects NBA Playoffs and parts of the NCAA Tournament.
Sling TV is best for:
- Budget fans who want ESPN or FOX without paying $90+/month
- NFL fans comfortable patching the CBS gap with Paramount+
- College football fans centered on the ESPN and SEC Network ecosystem
- Fans who want to customize and only pay for channels they watch
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream — The Premium All-in-One Option
DIRECTV Stream is the most comprehensive live sports streaming service in 2026. Every plan includes all four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) from day one — no patching, no workarounds. It’s also the only streaming service in 2026 that delivers Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), the only way to stream your local NBA, MLB, or NHL team in-market.
Current Pricing — March 2026
| Plan | Price/Month | Sports Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT | $89.99 | ESPN, FS1, all locals (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX), ESPN Unlimited |
| CHOICE | $94.99 | All above + RSNs (Bally Sports, etc.), ACC/Big Ten/SEC/MLB/NBA/NHL Networks |
| ULTIMATE | $114.99 | All above + NHL Network, CBS Sports Network |
| PREMIER | $159.99 | Everything + HBO Max, Paramount+ Premium, STARZ, Cinemax, MGM+ |
Standout features: Unlimited Cloud DVR (9 months), Multiview (4 games at once), Sports Central hub, ESPN Unlimited, 5-day free trial, no annual contract.
DIRECTV Stream is best for:
- NFL fans who need all four major networks in one plan with zero workarounds
- Local sports fans who need RSN coverage for NBA, MLB, or NHL home teams
- March Madness fans who need full TNT/TBS/CBS/NBC coverage
- Households wanting a true, complete cable replacement experience
Paramount+
Paramount+ — The Best Value Sports Add-On
Paramount+ is not a full cable replacement — it’s a CBS-powered streaming hub that in 2026 carries some of the most valuable live sports rights in the business at a remarkably low price. At just $8.99/month, it delivers more live sports per dollar than any other streaming service right now.
Current Pricing — Updated January 15, 2026
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Essential With ads |
$8.99/mo $89.99/yr |
NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, all UFC events incl. PPVs, March Madness on CBS. Ads included. No live local CBS. |
| Premium Ad-free |
$13.99/mo $139.99/yr |
Everything above + live local CBS stream, full SHOWTIME library, 4K, offline downloads. |
Free option: Paramount+ Essential is included free with an active Walmart+ membership.
Soccer coverage (best in US streaming):
- UEFA Champions League — Exclusive US rights through 2029–30
- UEFA Europa League & Conference League — Exclusive US rights
- UEFA Women’s Champions League — Exclusive US rights through 2029–30
- Serie A (Italian league) — Full season coverage
- NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) — Full coverage
Paramount+ is best for:
- UFC fans — all PPV events included, saves $1,000+/year vs old ESPN+ PPV model
- Sling TV subscribers who need CBS to complete NFL coverage
- Soccer fans — best and most affordable soccer streaming in the US
- Budget fans — $8.99/month covers more live sports than anything at this price
- Walmart+ members — get Essential free with existing membership
Side-by-Side Comparison — March 2026
| Feature | Sling TV | DIRECTV Stream | Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $45.99/mo | $89.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| ESPN | ✓ Orange plan | ✓ All plans | ✗ |
| CBS / NFL on CBS | ✗ Never | ✓ All plans | ✓ Both plans |
| FOX / NFL Sunday NFC | ✓ Blue plan | ✓ All plans | ✗ |
| NBC / Sunday Night Football | ⚠ Blue (select markets) | ✓ All plans | ✗ |
| NFL Network | ✓ Blue & Select | ✓ All plans | ✗ |
| Regional Sports Networks | ✗ | ✓ CHOICE plan+ | ✗ |
| UEFA Champions League | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Exclusive US |
| UFC (all events + PPV) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ All plans |
| March Madness (full) | ⚠ Missing TNT/TBS | ✓ Full coverage | ⚠ CBS games only |
| Cloud DVR | 50 hrs free | Unlimited (9 months) | On-demand only |
| Free Trial | ✓ Promo deals | ✓ 5-day trial | ✗ Discontinued |
Which Service Is Best For You?
🏈 NFL Fans
- All-in-one: DIRECTV Stream CHOICE ($94.99 + RSN fee) — all four networks, NFL Network, RSNs, unlimited DVR
- Best value stack: Sling Blue ($49.99) + Paramount+ Essential ($8.99) = ~$59/mo — covers FOX, NBC, CBS, NFL Network
- Ultra-budget: Sling Select ($19.99) + Paramount+ ($8.99) + free OTA antenna = ~$29/mo
🏀 March Madness Fans
- Best: DIRECTV Stream Entertainment ($89.99/mo) — full TNT/TBS/CBS/NBC coverage, 5-day free trial
- Budget: Paramount+ Essential ($8.99/mo) for CBS games + find another source for TNT/TBS rounds
⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 Fans
- English coverage: Sling Blue ($49.99/mo) — FOX and FS1 for all English-language World Cup broadcasts
- Full coverage: DIRECTV Stream ($89.99+) — FOX, FS1, all local ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX affiliates
- Spanish coverage: Add Peacock Premium ($7.99/mo) for Telemundo Spanish-language broadcasts
⚽ Champions League & Soccer Fans
- Paramount+ Essential ($8.99/mo) — exclusive US rights to UCL, Europa League, Women’s UCL, Serie A, NWSL
- Stack with Sling Blue for FOX’s annual UCL final broadcast
🥊 UFC Fans
- Paramount+ Essential ($8.99/mo) — every PPV and Fight Night included, saves $1,000+/year
- Upgrade to Premium ($13.99/mo) for fewer ad interruptions during live broadcasts
💰 Best Budget Sports Stack
- Sling Blue ($49.99) + Paramount+ Essential ($8.99) = ~$59/mo
- Covers: NFL on FOX/NBC/CBS + NFL Network, Champions League, World Cup on FOX/FS1, all UFC events
Final Verdict
Sling TV is best if you want flexibility on a budget — but the February 2026 price increase narrowed the gap with competitors. At $64.99/month for Orange+Blue, it’s no longer dramatically cheaper. The CBS gap must be patched with a second service.
DIRECTV Stream is the right call for fans who want one complete service with no gaps. It’s the most expensive option, but the only streaming service in 2026 with all four major NFL broadcast networks plus RSN local team coverage.
Paramount+ is the smartest add-on in streaming in 2026. At $8.99/month, it covers NFL on CBS, the entire UEFA Champions League, and every UFC PPV event. Paired with Sling Blue, you get a powerful sports package for ~$59/month — no contracts on either service.
Ready to Sign Up?
| Service | Starting Price | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling TV | From $45.99/mo | ESPN, FOX, NFL Network | Visit Sling TV → |
| DIRECTV Stream | From $89.99/mo | All 4 networks + RSNs | Visit DIRECTV → |
| Paramount+ | From $8.99/mo | CBS, UCL, UFC | Visit Paramount+ → |
Prices verified March 10, 2026. Streaming prices change frequently — always confirm current rates on each provider’s website before subscribing.