March Madness TV Guide: Where and when to see Friday’s first-round games

Remember back in the day when the NCAA Tournament was televised on one channel and you’d be subjected to split screens and live look-ins?

Those days are thankfully over.

CBS and Turner have put an end to that. In recent years, the networks have devoted four channels to the early stages of March Madness, ensuring fans can see any game they wish in its entirety, the way the good Lord intended.

That doesn’t mean it’s not a chore to find the games, however. So we’ve put together a handy-dandy list (thought I was gonna say ‘notebook’, didn’t you?) of where to find Thursday’s first-round tournament action, and channel listings depending on what television service you subscribe to.

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CBS

Cox: 5 (standard-definition), 1005 (high-definition)
DirecTV: 5
CenturyLink Prism: 5

9:15 AM – #7 Michigan Wolverines vs. #10 Oklahoma State Cowboys – Midwest Region – Indianapolis, IN
11:45 AM – #2 Louisville Cardinals vs. #15 Jacksonville State Gamecocks – Midwest Region – Indianapolis, IN
4:10 PM – #7 Dayton Flyers vs. #10 Wichita State Shockers – South Region – Indianapolis, IN
6:40 PM – #2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. #15 Northern Kentucky Norse – South Region – Indianapolis, IN

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Tru TV

Cox: 45 (standard-definition), 1045 (high-definition)
DirecTV: 246
CenturyLink Prism: 165

9:40 AM – #2 Baylor Bears vs. #15 New Mexico State Aggies – East Region – Tulsa, OK
12:10 PM – #6 SMU Mustangs vs. #11 USC Trojans – East Region – Tulsa, OK
4:27 PM – #6 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. #11 Kansas State Wildcats – South Region – Sacramento, CA
6:57 PM – #3 UCLA Bruins vs. #14 Kent State Golden Flashes – South Region – Sacramento, CA

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TNT

Cox: 26 (standard-definition), 1026 (high-definition)
DirecTV: 245
CenturyLink Prism: 109

10:30 AM – #8 Arkansas Razorbacks vs. #9 Seton Hall Pirates – South Region – Greenvile, SC
1:00 PM – #1 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. #16 Texas Southern Tigers – South Region – Greenville, SC
3:50 PM – #1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #16 UC Davis Aggies – Midwest Region – Tulsa, OK
6:20 PM – #8 Miami Hurricanes vs. #9 Michigan State Spartans – Midwest Region – Tulsa, OK

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TBS

Cox: 49 (standard-definition), 1049 (high-definition)
DirecTV: 247
CenturyLink Prism: 113

11:00 AM – #3 Oregon Ducks vs. #14 Iona Gaels – Midwest Region – Sacramento, CA
1:30 PM – #6 Creighton Bluejays vs. #11 Rhode Island Rams – Midwest Region – Sacramento, CA
4:20 PM – #2 Duke Blue Devils vs. #15 Troy Trojans – East Region – Greenville, SC
6:40 PM – # 7 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. #10 Marquette Golden Eagles – East Region – Greenville, SC

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