Which CBS Shows Aren’t Airing Because of March Madness? ‘Matlock,’ ‘Boston Blue’ & More
NCAA March Madness 2026 is one week away. The tournament will knock some of CBS‘s scripted programming off the schedule, so we’re breaking down what shows aren’t airing during the three-week televised event.
When does March Madness 2026 start?
The games begin on Tuesday, March 17, but Selection Sunday is on March 15.
Where can I watch March Madness 2026?
TNT Sports and CBS Sports are handling live coverage of every game across four TV networks — TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV — as well as two streaming services — HBO Max and Paramount+. Games that air live on TBS, TNT, and truTV will stream live on HBO Max. Games that air live on CBS will stream live on Paramount+. All of the games can also be streamed on NCAA March Madness Live.
The First Four takes place on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, on truTV, with the tip-off starting at 5 p.m. ET. The first round starts on Thursday, March 19, on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. You can find the network schedules here: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV.
What is the March Madness 2026 schedule?
See the schedule here:
- Selection Sunday: Sunday, March 15
- First Four: March 17-18
- First round: March 19-20
- Second round: March 21-22
- Sweet 16: March 26-27
- Elite Eight: March 28-29
- Final Four: April 4
- NCAA championship game: April 6
Which CBS shows aren’t airing during March Madness 2026?
While the games start on Tuesday, March 17, CBS’s Tuesday and Wednesday schedules are not impacted by them. The Thursday and Friday primetime hours, however, are.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Ghosts, Matlock, and Elsbeth will not be airing on Thursday, March 19, or Thursday, March 26.
Sheriff Country, Fire Country, and Boston Blue will not be airing on Friday, March 20, or Friday, March 27.
48 Hours will only air from 10-11 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, March 28, instead of 9-11 p.m. ET.
The CBS Sunday primetime lineup for March 22 and March 29 — Marshals, Tracker, and Watson — isn’t changing.
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R
Why can’t they put this garbage on a sports network so that those of us that have no interest or desire to watch it can continue to watch our regular shows? Please?
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M
CBS makes More money during March Madness than all shows combined
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B
Interesting. Felt the same way when CBS put these and other shows on hiatus due to the Winter Olympics (not even airing on CBS or affiliates). March Madness, unlike other sports stuff, due to a 68 team format spread across and getting interest from virtually every part of the country especially week one. Eyeballs = $$$
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B
First, why does it have to be on so many channels, secondly, there are dedicated sports channels televise the games on those channels and leave CBS to show regular programming. There are people like myself that are not interested in college sports.
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U
Why is it that those of us who don't give two cents about March madness have to be punished and not get to see our shows can't you just dedicate a channel for these games and allow us a channel ....so now we will be forced to watch netflix or prime and some of their movies aren't really worth watching either....thanks alot
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P
I totally agree with the previous comments ! Keep it on the sports channels for those who want to watch sports !!!
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F
I think they lied have Marshall's set to record went to watch it. It was 60 minutes, if they showed it was in the wrong time slot, they need to show f ing basketball on a sports channel not everyone give a crap about it
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