Here’s How to Watch TBS for Free Without Cable to Catch March Madness & More

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You don’t need a cable subscription to tune into the biggest events in sports, including the ongoing March Madness tournament. Want to watch TBS and all of its programs without any hassle? Keep reading to learn how to watch TBS for free without cable.

TBS is an American cable television network owned by Warner Bros Discovery. The channel was formed in December 1976 as the national feed of Ted Turner’s Atlanta, Georgia, independent television station, WTCG. TBS became one of the first channels retransmitted via satellite to regional cable providers. By the early 2000s, TBS focused on comedic programming, including sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, Home Improvement, and Seinfeld.

Today, TBS offers viewers a mix of game shows, reality shows, and reruns of live-action sitcoms, like Family Matters, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, and Modern Family. The channel also airs sports events, including Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and more. Discover how to watch TBS for free without cable below.

How to watch TBS for free

TBS is available to stream live on services like DirecTV Stream, Sling, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Sling and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials; however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Sling TV starts at $20 for your first month. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month. All services also include similar channels like TNT.

• Best Overall Pick to Watch TBS: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial
• Best Budget Pick to Watch TBS: Sling TV
• Best Upgrade Pick to Watch TBS: Hulu+ With Live TV

Best Overall Pick to Watch TBS: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial

DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch TBS for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first two months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $84.99 per month with the first two months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $159.99 per month. All plans include TBS, as well as similar channels like TNT.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels, including premium channels like HBO and Starz, and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch TBS with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for TBS and start watching

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch TBS: Sling TV

Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch TBS for its channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $40 per month; Sling Blue for $45 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $60 per month. Sling also has a current deal where subscribers can sign up for 50 percent off their first month, bringing Sling Orange’s price down to $20 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $22.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $30 for your first month. All plans include TBS, as well as similar channels like TNT.

As for the differences between the plans, Sling Orange, which is most suited toward sports and family channels, includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time. Sling Orange, which is most suited toward news and entertainment channels, includes 42 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Sling Orange + Blue includes all the channels offered on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue, as well as the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch TBS with Sling TV.

1. Visit Sling.com
2. Click “Try Us Today”
3. Create an account
4. Select your plan
5. Enter your payment information and check out
6. Search for TBS and start watching

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch TBS: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch TBS based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. TBS is included on all plans and includes similar channels like TNT. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how watch TBS with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for TBS and start watching

What can you watch on TBS?

What else can you watch on TBS? In addition to March Madness and sports events, TBS airs various TV programs, including comedies, dramas, and sitcoms. In April, the channel airs reruns of beloved shows like The Big Bang Theory, American Dad, Family Matters, Young Sheldon, Friends, and Modern Family. You can also catch Impractical Jokers, Stupid Pet Tricks, and other reality comedy shows.

When the channel is not playing syndicated series or sports, you can also watch movies on TBS, including Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Check out the April 2024 TBS schedule here.