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Reading Time: 5 minutesIf you’re a college basketball fan shopping for a new TV before the 2026 NCAA tournament starts on March 17, there are some things to keep in mind if you want both a good deal and the best setup for watching live sports.
What Matters Most in a TV for Sports
While no TV is designed specifically for watching sports, some features matter more than others when you’re trying to narrow down your options. For example:
- Choose a TV with a wide viewing angle if you usually watch games with a group of people.
- If your TV will be in a well-lit room, look for strong brightness and good reflection handling.
- Prioritize models with good upscaling capabilities since very few sporting events are broadcast in native 4K.
- A refresh rate of 120Hz is plenty for live sports.
- Size is what most people should probably focus on, and make sure you go with the best size for your room and not just the biggest TV you can afford. RTings has a great viewing distance calculator to help you figure this out.
To make the decision easier, we’ve grouped our March Madness picks by TV size while also prioritizing models that check most of the boxes above.
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The Best 55″ March Madness TV Deals
Let’s start off with 55″ TVs, which are ideal if you’re watching from around 7.5′. Below are some models we’d recommend.
Samsung 55” Class OLED S90F
This is a great TV in any size and more on the premium end. With great upscaling capabilities thanks to the NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor and OLED HDR+ that delivers exceptional brightness, you can’t go wrong with this TV. It features AI Motion Enhancer Pro, which reduces blurring and flickering on fast moving objects like basketballs and pucks. Regular price is $1,800, but you can get it at retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo for ~$1,100. The slickest deal is available directly from Samsung if you have access to their EDU or EPP program. Then you can get it for $918 if you follow the instructions in this deal thread.
Hisense 55″ Class U8 MiniLED QLED
This Hisense model stands out for brightness, with a MiniLED panel rated up to 5,000 nits, making it a strong option for bright rooms and daytime games. The refresh rate is 165Hz, so you shouldn’t have issues with a blurry picture during games. The regular price for this TV is $1,499, but you can currently get it at Walmart for $744. Best Buy also has it for $748 if that’s more convenient for you.
The Best 65-Inch March Madness TV Deals
This is probably one of the most common TV sizes these days, and the ideal viewing distance is around 9′.
LG 65″ C5 Class OLED evo AI 4K Smart TV
This TV from LG is another great option for live sports. It features a Gen 8 AI Processor that will handle upscaling seamlessly. The refresh rate is 144Hz and with a 0.1ms response time you shouldn’t experience any blurring during fast breaks. It’s also certified as Glare Free, meaning it should handle bright rooms well. Regular price is $2,700, but our community found a deal that includes a soundbar for a total of $1,134.
Samsung 65″ Class S90D Series OLED
Another high quality set that meets our bar for refresh rate and upscaling capabilities. We didn’t see any super slick deals for this set at the moment, but both Best Buy and Walmart have it for $1,147, which is $253 lower than the list price. But if you’re open to a larger size, we did see a better deal for the 77″ version of this TV for $1,500.
The Best 75-Inch March Madness TV Deals
For 75″ TVs you want to be at least 10′ away for the best viewing experience.
Hisense U7 Series MiniLED QLED
This is one step down in quality from the Hisense U8 we mentioned in the 55″ TV section, so it won’t tick all our boxes but we’re including it anyways because there’s a really good deal on this TV. You still get a high refresh rate (165Hz) and the screen produces up to 3,000 nits. Some reviews have pointed out that it does have a tight viewing angle, so if you usually watch games with a lot of people you should probably pass on this TV. If that’s not a problem, however, definitely check out the deal at Best Buy for $900. That’s 30% off regular price and solid value on a TV this size.
Sony BRAVIA 7
This TV offers everything we’re looking for when watching sports. It delivers strong brightness, a smooth refresh rate, effective upscaling, and clear motion during fast plays thanks to XR Motion Clarity. There isn’t an incredible deal on this TV at the moment, but you can still save $200 off MSRP at Best Buy or Amazon and get it for $2,000. Unfortunately, that was the price for the 85″ version of this TV a couple of months ago, so we just missed out. But I recommend setting a deal alert if you have time to wait in case the deal comes back before the tournament starts.
Best TVs for Sports FAQ
Below are some commonly asked questions people have when shopping for a TV specifically to watch sports on.
Are TV deals good during March Madness?
Yes, TV deals can be very good during March Madness, even if Black Friday usually brings the lowest prices overall. Springtime is actually better to shop for a high-quality TV that came out the previous year because retailers need to make room for the new models. So while the deals aren’t necessarily for March Madness, the timing lines up well if you want a great deal on a TVs that’s great for watching sports.
Where are the best places to find March Madness TV deals?
Best Buy and Walmart generally have the best selection of TV deals right now. These big retailers often compete for the best deal, so you should see similar price points across these stores. If you have access to Samsung’s EDU or EPP discounts, or the LG Partner Store, check those too, since they sometimes offer more aggressive pricing than traditional retailers.
Costco and Sam’s Club tend to offer fewer models, but their bundles can still make them worth considering. Costco is especially appealing thanks to its 90-day returns and extended warranty benefits at no extra cost.V warranty at no extra cost.
What size TV is best for watching basketball?
The best TV size depends more on your room and viewing distance than the sport you’re watching. That distance matters because if you sit too far from the screen, you won’t get the full benefit of 4K resolution. A simple rule of thumb is to divide your viewing distance in inches by 1.6 to find the ideal screen size. For example, if you sit 12 feet away, a 90-inch TV would be a good fit.
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Johan Mengesha
Johan Mengesha is the Editorial Director at Slickdeals in Los Angeles, Calif. Mengesha has written for print and online media outlets since 2003 and has a journalism degree from Cal State Northridge. Published work has appeared in the "Los Angeles Daily News," the "Daily Sundial" and eHow.com.
