Television CBS Sports and
TNT Sports had US television rights to the tournament. As part of a cycle that began in 2016,
TBS televised the 2026 Final Four and the National Championship Game. In November 2025,
TNT Sports and
ESPN announced an agreement to allow ESPN's
Dick Vitale to call a First Four game on truTV alongside TNT Sports'
Charles Barkley. In exchange, Vitale and Barkley called a December 13, 2025 regular season game on ESPN between Indiana and Kentucky.
CBS Mornings co-host and
The NFL Today analyst
Nate Burleson replaced
Ernie Johnson for the first two weeks of the tournament, as Johnson announced his semi-retirement from hosting March Madness to focus on his increasing
Inside the NBA duties for
ESPN and
ABC under a sub-licensing agreement from TNT Sports. Johnson continued to host the Final Four and National Championship Game.
Television channels • Selection Show –
CBS • First Four –
truTV • First and Second Rounds – CBS,
TBS,
TNT, and truTV • Regional Semifinals and Finals – CBS and TBS/truTV • National Semifinals and Finals (Final Four and National Championship) – TBS/truTV and TNT (alternative presentation for Final Four only).
Streaming •
HBO Max (only TBS, TNT, and truTV games), ad free tiers only. •
Paramount+ (only CBS games), ad free tiers only • March Madness app and website (with
TV Everywhere authentication)
Studio hosts •
Nate Burleson (New York City) – First and Second rounds and regionals •
Adam Zucker (New York City) – First and Second rounds •
Adam Lefkoe (Atlanta and Indianapolis) – First Four, First and Second rounds, regional semifinals and Final Four •
Ernie Johnson (Indianapolis) – Final Four and national championship game •
Jamie Erdahl (New York City) – First and Second rounds (game breaks)
Studio analysts •
Charles Barkley (New York City and Indianapolis) – First and Second rounds, regionals, Final Four and national championship game •
Seth Davis (Atlanta and New York City) – First and Second rounds •
Clark Kellogg (New York City and Indianapolis) – First and Second rounds, regionals, Final Four and national championship game •
Jamal Mashburn (Atlanta and Indianapolis) – First Four, First and Second rounds, regional semifinals and Final Four •
Renee Montgomery (New York City) – First and Second rounds •
Candace Parker (Indianapolis) – Final Four •
Bruce Pearl (Atlanta, New York City and Indianapolis) – First Four, First and Second rounds, regionals, Final Four and national championship game •
Jalen Rose (Atlanta and Indianapolis) – First Four, First and Second rounds, regional semifinals and Final Four •
Kenny Smith (New York City and Indianapolis) – First round, regionals, Final Four and national championship game •
Gene Steratore (New York City and Indianapolis) (Rules Analyst) – First Four, First and Second rounds, regionals, Final Four and national championship game •
Chris Webber (Indianapolis) – Final Four
Broadcast assignments •
Ian Eagle/
Bill Raftery/
Grant Hill/
Tracy Wolfson – First and Second rounds in Greenville, South Carolina; East Regional at Washington, D.C.; Final Four and National Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana •
Brian Anderson or
Jason Benetti/
Jim Jackson/
Allie LaForce – First and Second rounds in Buffalo, New York; West Regional at San Jose, California • Benetti called the First Round, while Anderson called the Second Round and the West Regional. •
Kevin Harlan/
Robbie Hummel/
Stan Van Gundy/
Lauren Shehadi – First and Second rounds in San Diego, California; South Regional at Houston, Texas •
Andrew Catalon/
Steve Lappas/
Evan Washburn – First and Second rounds in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Midwest Regional at Chicago, Illinois •
Brad Nessler/
Wally Szczerbiak/
Jared Greenberg – First and Second rounds in Portland, Oregon •
Spero Dedes/
Jim Spanarkel/
Jon Rothstein – First and Second rounds in St. Louis, Missouri •
Brandon Gaudin/
Chris Webber/
Andy Katz – First and Second Rounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma •
Tom McCarthy/
Candace Parker/
Dan Bonner/
AJ Ross – First and Second rounds in Tampa, Florida •
Jordan Kent/Jim Spanarkel/
Jenny Dell – First Four first game during Tuesday session and both games during Wednesday session in Dayton, Ohio • Brian Anderson/Charles Barkley/
Dick Vitale/Jenny Dell – First Four second game during Tuesday session in Dayton, Ohio
Radio Westwood One will have exclusive coverage of the entire tournament.
First Four •
Danny Reed and
King McClure – Dayton, Ohio
First and Second rounds •
Jason Benetti/Patrick McCarthy/Sam Neidermann and
Sarah Kustok – Buffalo, New York •
Noah Eagle and
LaPhonso Ellis – Greenville, South Carolina • Ted Emrich and
Casey Jacobsen – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Ryan Radtke and
Austin Croshere – Portland, Oregon •
John Sadak and
Tom Crean – Tampa, Florida •
Scott Graham and
Jon Crispin – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania •
Kevin Kugler and
P. J. Carlesimo – San Diego, California • Nate Gatter/Tom Leach and Jordan Cornette – St. Louis, Missouri
Regional semifinals and finals •
Spero Dedes and
Fran Fraschilla – South Regional at Houston, Texas • Ryan Radtke and P. J. Carlesimo – West Regional at San Jose, California • Kevin Kugler and Jordan Cornette – Midwest Regional at Chicago, Illinois • Scott Graham and Tom Crean – East Regional at Washington, D.C.
National semifinals and finals • Kevin Kugler,
Robbie Hummel, P. J. Carlesimo, and
Andy Katz – Final Four and National Championship at Indianapolis, Indiana ==Television ratings==