CBS March 2026 TV Schedule
CBS March 2026 TV Schedule

What’s on CBS in March 2026

March is one of the strongest months on the CBS calendar. With NCAA basketball coverage, reliable procedural franchises, long-running news programs, and reality competition episodes intensifying, CBS positions itself as one of the most stable broadcast networks in the United States.

CBS programming in March typically focuses on:

  • NCAA March Madness tournament coverage

  • Established crime and investigation dramas

  • Reality competition midseason arcs

  • Sunday news dominance

For updated local listings, visit:
https://www.cbs.com/schedule

(All times listed below are Eastern Time unless noted.)

Live Sports Event: NCAA March Madness on CBS

Official site:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/

CBS is a primary national broadcaster of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Coverage typically includes:

  • First Round (mid-March Thursday–Friday)

  • Second Round (weekend games)

  • Regional Semifinals and Finals (select markets)

Games air in rotating windows, often beginning around 12:00 PM ET and continuing into primetime.

Why this matters:

  • One of CBS’s highest-rated annual events

  • Live broadcast available free via antenna

  • Preempts some regular primetime programming during tournament weeks

Always check your local CBS affiliate for exact game assignments.

Sunday Anchor: 60 Minutes (7:00 PM ET)

Official site:
https://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes/

Program: 60 Minutes

Still one of the most-watched news programs in America, 60 Minutes airs every Sunday evening.

March 2026 episodes typically include:

  • Investigative political reporting

  • International conflict analysis

  • Cultural profiles

  • Business and economic investigations

The program often serves as a lead-in to Sunday primetime dramas.

Wednesday Reality Anchor: Survivor (Season 48)

Official site:
https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/

Program: Survivor Season 48

By March, Survivor is typically in midseason merge episodes where strategic gameplay intensifies.

March episodes often include:

  • Post-merge tribal council eliminations

  • Major alliance shifts

  • Immunity challenge turning points

Survivor remains one of CBS’s strongest unscripted franchises and performs well in both live ratings and streaming.

Monday Franchise: NCIS Universe

Official site:
https://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/

Current active titles in 2026 include:

  • NCIS

  • NCIS: Hawaiʻi

  • NCIS: Sydney

Typical Monday lineup:

8:00 PM – NCIS
9:00 PM – NCIS: Hawaiʻi
10:00 PM – NCIS: Sydney (or rotating drama slot)

March episodes frequently build toward spring season finales with deeper character arcs.

Why NCIS still dominates:

  • Over two decades of brand recognition

  • Procedural format easy for new viewers

  • Strong syndication footprint

Tuesday Franchise Block: FBI Universe

Official site:
https://www.cbs.com/shows/fbi/

Current FBI lineup includes:

  • FBI

  • FBI: Most Wanted

  • FBI: International

Typical Tuesday structure:

8:00 PM – FBI
9:00 PM – FBI: Most Wanted
10:00 PM – FBI: International

March episodes often escalate multi-episode arcs or introduce crossover elements between series.

CBS consistently ranks Tuesday nights among its most stable ratings blocks.

Thursday Crime & Legal Dramas

CBS typically programs Thursday evenings with investigative or legal dramas.

Recent and current titles include:

  • Elsbeth

  • So Help Me Todd

  • Tracker

Tracker, starring Justin Hartley, has become one of CBS’s strongest new procedural additions.

Typical structure:

8:00 PM – Drama
9:00 PM – Drama
10:00 PM – Drama

Exact times may shift depending on March Madness scheduling.

Sunday Primetime (Post 60 Minutes)

Depending on tournament scheduling, Sunday nights in March may include:

  • Tracker

  • The Equalizer

  • CSI: Vegas (if in rotation)

These programs follow 60 Minutes and benefit from its strong lead-in audience.

Sample Weekly CBS Schedule (Eastern Time)

Monday
8:00 PM – NCIS
9:00 PM – NCIS: Hawaiʻi
10:00 PM – NCIS: Sydney

Tuesday
8:00 PM – FBI
9:00 PM – FBI: Most Wanted
10:00 PM – FBI: International

Wednesday
8:00 PM – Survivor Season 48
9:00 PM – Drama
10:00 PM – Drama

Thursday
8:00 PM – Elsbeth or So Help Me Todd
9:00 PM – Tracker
10:00 PM – Drama

Sunday
7:00 PM – 60 Minutes
8:00 PM – Primetime drama or March Madness coverage

How to Watch CBS Free in March 2026

Over-the-air antenna:

CBS affiliates broadcast nationwide in HD.

Signal lookup tool:

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

Streaming:

https://www.cbs.com

Paramount+ also carries CBS live stream and next-day episodes.

Live TV streaming services:

  • Hulu + Live TV

  • YouTube TV

  • Fubo

  • DirecTV Stream

Live TV Streaming Services Carrying CBS

Common services:

  • Hulu + Live TV

  • YouTube TV

  • Fubo

  • DirecTV Stream

Availability may vary by market.

Final Takeaway

CBS’s March 2026 schedule centers on dependable storytelling and major live sports. With March Madness, Survivor, NCIS, FBI franchises, and 60 Minutes, the network offers one of the most stable and recognizable lineups in American broadcast television.

For viewers using a digital antenna, CBS remains one of the most valuable free national networks in the United States.