Watch Cinderella's first step: How to watch the First Four March Madness games on TruTV
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Is your bracket ready? The First Four games of the men's NCAA March Madness tournament takes place on Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19. The two-night introduction to the tournament will return to TruTV, a lesser-known force in the sports broadcasting game, which you can stream on Sling for 50% off your first month.
TruTV is expected to host 21 total March Madness games, including the First Four. While TruTV is known for a variety of shows, like Impractical Jokers, it's owned by Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros. It has been hosting March Madness games since 2011.
Here's how to watch the First Four games on TruTV:
Who is playing in the First Four games?
There are eight teams headed to Dayton, Ohio to compete in the 'First Four' games of the NCAA March Madness tournament. They include the lowest-ranked four conference champions and the lowest-ranked four at-large berths, all of whom are competing for a chance to get into the first round in the field of 64.
Here are the teams who make up the eight competing in the First Four: No. 11 North Carolina, No. 11 San Diego State, No. 11 Texas, No. 11 Xavier, No. 16 Alabama State, No. 16 Saint Francis PA, No. 16 American and No. 16 Mount St. Mary's.
What is the First Four schedule for the men's March Madness tournament?
You can watch every second of the First Four on TruTV, along with a number of games through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Tuesday, March 18
No. 16 St. Francis PA vs. No. 16 Alabama State, 6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT - Watch with Sling
No. 11 UNC vs. No. 11 San Diego State, 9:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. PT - Watch with Sling
Wednesday, March 19
No. 16 Mt. St. Mary's vs. No. 16 American, 6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT - Watch with Sling
No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 11 Texas, 9:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. PT - Watch with Sling
There will be 17 other games that air on TruTV, so be sure to stay tuned throughout the tournament.
What channel will the First Four games be on?
The men's tournament will air across TruTV, TNT, TBS and CBS, with the First Four solely airing on TruTV. Sling offers TruTV as part of its Sling Blue package. You will get more than 40 channels, including TruTV, TNT and TBS. But for the true sports fans out there check out the Sports Extra package for more channels like the ESPN-suite. This means you will have the most access to March Madness and so much more with the click of a button.
How to watch live sports in Sling TV
- Sling Orange: The Sling Orange package has over 30 channels, including popular networks like ESPN, Disney Channel, CNN and HGTV. This is a popular pick for families and sports fans who want access to live game coverage and kid-friendly content. Sling Orange allows streaming on one device. Save 50% on your first month and pay just $23.
- Sling Blue: With more than 45 channels, Sling Blue caters to a wider audience with major networks like FOX, NBC, Bravo and National Geographic. This package is perfect for those who enjoy a nice mix of news, reality television and lifestyle programming. Sling Blue allows streaming on up to three devices. Save 50% on your first month and pay just $23.
- Sling Orange + Blue: You can combine the best of both worlds with Sling Orange and Sling Blue. It provides all 46 channels offered in both basic packages, including the 22 exclusive channels. And you never have to worry about missing a game. Sling Orange + Blue is $30.50 for your first month.
- Sports Extra Package: For the true sports fans out there check out the Sports Extra package. You'd be getting more in-depth sports channels like MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network. But, it also gives you more access to the ESPN-suite, with channels like ESPNU and ESPNews when combined with Sling Orange. The Sports Extra Package is an additional $11 per month on top of Sling Blue, Sling Orange or the combination.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.