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Sports fans can catch live games on TBS — but unless you have cable, your viewing options are limited.

On Saturday, Apr. 6, the final game during the NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament airs on TBS. The 2026 National Championship features the No. 2-ranked UConn Huskies facing off against the No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, with tipoff at 8:50 p.m. ET/5:50 p.m. PT.

Cord-cutters don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a cable package in order to get access to basketball games and other TBS programming — there are affordable streaming options such as live TV streamers that’ll give you instant access and for a fraction of the price.

With current free trials and promos going on, you’ll get access to hundreds of other live TV channels that’ll expand your program options, so you can watch sports, reality TV and the latest dramas live and in real time.

How to Watch TBS Online

You can get access to TBS through live TV streamers, such as DirecTV — which is currently offering a free trial. Below are all the ways to watch TBS online.

A subscription to DirecTV — which comes with TBS for NCAA March Madness — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels with the streamer’s “MySports” package, starting at $44.99 for the first month of service ($64.99 per month afterwards). The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.

You can watch local networks such as NBC, CBS and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.

Sling TV offers three packages to choose from, such as Orange, Blue and Orange + Blue, with every option including TBS. The Orange Package is the most affordable and comes with nearly 35 channels and can be streamed on just one device at a time. Included in the Blue Package is nearly 50 channels. Can’t choose? You can combine both packages and get all channels and the ability to stream on up to three devices at once.

Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from market-to-market.

For the most content offerings, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV and get access to the Hulu library in addition to more then 95 live TV channels (including TBS). The streaming platform starts at $89.99 per month.

And, for even more programming, Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited, which will give you everything within the Hulu library in addition to exclusive content on ESPN for even more sports coverage.

HBO Max starts at $10.99 per month. It’s streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. However, you’ll need a subscription to Prime Video (or an Amazon Prime membership) to add HBO Max to your account (no free trial available).

Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Photos; fast free shipping in less than two days with Prime Delivery; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market; access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and much more. Learn more about Amazon Prime here.

HBO Max even gets you live sports access to the NHL, AEW and more. It features hit movies and TV shows, including The Penguin, Superman, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Peacemaker, Sinners, Dune: Part Two and more.

The streaming service is also the home to exclusive Music Box documentaries, such as Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary, Woodstock ’99: Peace, Love and Rage, Juice WLRD: Into The Abyss, DMX: Don’t Try to Understand and others.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

Hot like summer, yeah, the internet’s favorite spicy wings are going to make BTS sweat like that. As announced Sunday (April 5), the Bangtan Boys will be the next guests on Hot Ones, with all seven members set to appear alongside host Sean Evans to tackle the web series’ famous “wings of death.”

The show revealed that the members of BTS would be making their debut by sharing a video of Evans sitting at an unusually large table on the Hot Ones set, which usually hosts only one celebrity at a time. “This week’s guests on the season finale of Hot Ones, they flew all the way across the world to be here at this table,” the host begins.

“And while we’re on the topic of tables, it’s the largest one this studio has ever seen,” Evans continues. “We’ve got seven chairs, seven sets of wings. Including me, that is 80 wings on the table, a Hot Ones record.”

The clip then shows a barrage of social media posts from ARMY requesting that BTS appear on the show before cutting to a camera pan of the backs of all seven guest chairs, designated by name tags for each of the band’s members: RM, j-hope, Jin, SUGA, V, Jung Kook and Jimin. “It’s gonna be dynamite,” Evans concludes, referencing a couple of BTS’ hits. “Smooth like butter.”

Fans will have to wait until the episode drops at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (April 9) to find out how well each of the seven members fares against Hot Ones‘ curated platter of increasingly spicy chicken wings. That same day, the band is set to kick off its world stadium tour in support of new album ARIRANG, which just notched its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Watch the announcement for BTS on Hot Ones below.

For students and recent graduates trying to break into the music industry, internships remain one of the clearest entry points. Competition is high, and much of the advice students encounter tends to be outdated or overly generic, leaving many unsure how to approach the process today.

As a college senior preparing to enter the workforce myself, I wanted to understand what factors can help a student or recent graduate get their foot in the door. What do people inside the industry notice? Where do applicants go wrong? And what does “standing out” really mean at the intern level?

“Last year, we had over 55,000 applicants for about 100 spots in our internship program, so you have to find a way to stand out beyond just a passion for music,” says Nicole Candon, head of talent acquisitions at Spotify. “Relentless curiosity, sound judgment and being fascinated with where technology, creators and the music industry are heading is what sets candidates apart.”

I spoke to executives, managers and early-career professionals across labels, management and streaming companies to figure out what it takes to get noticed and eventually advance up the career ladder. Check out my main takeaways below.

Reliability and curiosity matter more than perfection

“The interns who succeed are reliable, proactive and genuinely curious,” says Stephanie Mahler, former senior vp of artist relations & brand development at Warner Music Group. Mahler has worked closely with interns throughout her career, and when asked what distinguishes those who succeed, her answer focused less on credentials and more on how people show up.

“They take the unglamorous work seriously, ask thoughtful questions and learn fast,” Mahler says. “More than any specific technical skill, it’s the combination of work ethic, emotional intelligence and a willingness to be helpful that sets people apart.”

In an industry where teams are often stretched thin, interns who can be trusted with small but essential tasks tend to earn more responsibility quickly. At this level, success has very little to do with prestige and everything to do with consistency. Mahler also stresses that many students underestimate how much of the music business happens behind the scenes.

“Music is still a relationship business, but it’s also deeply operational,” she says. “There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that powers the creative side: data, platforms, contracts, strategy. Understanding how all those pieces connect is just as important as having good taste or cultural instincts.”

For interns, that means paying attention not only to what they’re asked to do, but why they’re doing it, and how their work fits into a larger system. Understanding the mechanics of the business can be just as valuable as proximity to artists or releases.

Do your homework, then do more

Eric Sherman, managing partner at Second Generation Music and Talent Management, says one of the biggest mistakes he sees from aspiring interns is a lack of preparation. “The music industry evolves very quickly,” Sherman says. “There are so many different types of companies in the industry, and it’s really to your benefit to do a ton of research before you apply anywhere.”

That research needs to go beyond a company’s social media presence. “Walking in with a proper understanding of which company you’re looking to work for, what they actually do and how they fit into the industry matters,” he says.

Sherman also notes that internships today look very different than they did even a decade ago. “Internships used to be much more freeform; they weren’t as regulated,” he says. While that shift can feel limiting, Sherman doesn’t see it as a reason for discouragement. Instead, he says the added structure makes it even more important for candidates to be informed and clear about what they want to learn.

“Think about the area of the industry you’re most interested in,” he advises. “There are so many different kinds of music companies, and doing the research helps you figure out where you’ll actually learn the most.”

Given the speed of AI developments, Candon suggests showing “passion through action” and experimenting with emerging technology and bringing fresh perspectives on how to better serve artists, creators and fans. “Show us how you’ll help shape the future of audio,” she says.

Networking works best when it’s genuine

Both Mahler and Sherman emphasize that networking still matters, but only when it’s approached thoughtfully.

“Networking is still incredibly important, but it works best when it’s genuine,” Mahler says. “Real relationships are built through curiosity, consistency, and follow-up often matter as much as formal applications.”

Sherman stresses the importance of clear communication. At the intern level, that often shows up in small moments, a clear follow-up, a thoughtful question, or the ability to communicate interest without overselling yourself.

Don’t ignore the unglamorous work

While the spotlight tends to highlight the most exciting parts of the industry, the real learning often happens elsewhere: “One common misconception is focusing only on the ‘cool’ parts of the job,” Mahler says. “Early on, the unsexy tasks are where you earn trust and learn how the business actually works. Another mistake is underestimating how small the industry is. How you show up, communicate and treat people really matters.”

Understand what hiring managers actually look for

At the application stage, expectations are often lower, and also more specific, than students assume. One senior early-career hiring leader at a major music company says that internship résumés are not evaluated for depth of experience.

“For the resume, we’re not focused on experience — it’s an internship, so we understand that these are people who don’t have work experience,” the person says. “What’s most important is that it’s complete, easy to read and free of spelling errors.”

The emphasis tends to fall on written application responses, where candidates are asked to explain why they want the internship and why a particular company makes sense for their goals.

Competition remains steep. Summer recruiting cycles, typically the busiest, can draw several hundred applications at major music companies, with additional volume during fall and spring programs. In that environment, clarity, focus and intention become key differentiators.

Professionalism over fandom

One consistent theme hiring leaders point to is the importance of approaching internships as professional opportunities rather than fan experiences.

“It’s important they don’t approach it as a fan,” one hiring manager says. “If they approach it as a fan, they’re going to lose credibility.”

In practice, that distinction shows up early — in how candidates communicate, how they describe their interest in a role and whether they demonstrate an understanding of the work itself rather than just excitement about the industry.

That reality is something Jasmine Nhan, an early-career operations specialist at Sony Music Entertainment, experienced firsthand: “The early days weren’t glamorous, mostly manual work, little guidance and feeling invisible,” she says. “But showing up consistently, staying professional and pushing through the discomfort is what ultimately earned me a seat at the table.”

As a college student, Nhan applied broadly across fashion, music and adjacent industries while working in food and beverage to support herself. After months of automated rejections, her break came unexpectedly.

“If there’s one realistic piece of advice I’d give to someone trying to land an internship now, it’s to always be prepared with your elevator pitch,” she says. “You never know who you’re talking to or where a casual conversation might lead.

“Relationships matter just as much as résumés,” Nhan adds. “Visibility matters more than perfection, and resilience is non-negotiable.”

What it comes down to

There’s no single formula for breaking into the music industry, and no guarantee that one opportunity will lead directly to another. But those already inside it point to the same fundamentals: preparation, curiosity, professionalism and how you show up when it counts. At the intern level, it often comes down to small things — following through, asking thoughtful questions and being someone others can rely on. In an industry built on relationships, those early impressions tend to stick.

While the path may look different for everyone, the common thread is consistent: The people who move forward are the ones who stay engaged, keep learning and show up, even when no one is paying attention yet. As Candon puts it: “Remember, an internship is your starting line — for us, it’s a direct pipeline to our early-career roles and programs. Treat it that way by saying yes to opportunities and by being an avid team player. That’s how you turn a summer internship into a career.”