What to Watch in April: A Guide to Streaming Sports, Entertainment Live Online
Scheffler’s odds to win back-to-back are +700, according to SI Sportsbook.
Adam Cairns/Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports
Spring is finally here, and with comes the end of the the NBA and NHL regular season (but the start of the playoffs!), as well as the conclusion of 2023 March Madness. NCAA college basketball title games kick off an exciting month in sports and entertainment, with everything from award shows to races on the calendar.
Both the WNBA and NFL host drafts in April, with stars such as Aliyah Boston, Diamond Miller, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud among the top picks to look out for in both leagues. Plus, eyes are on Augusta once again as one of golf’s biggest tournament returns.
All times Eastern.
NCAA National Title Games
March definitely brought the Madness this year, and it’s time for the tournament to come to a close in April, with both the men’s and women’s national title games kicking off the month.
How to watch
Live coverage of men’s and women’s college basketball national championship games will kick off Sunday, April 2 and continue through Monday, April 3, with the women’s game airing on ABC and the men’s on CBS.
TV coverage and schedule
Dates: April 2 to April 3 (ABC, CBS)
Women’s NCAA national championship game: Sunday, April 2 at 3 p.m. (ABC)
Men’s NCAA national championship game: Monday, April 3 at 9 p.m. (CBS)
CMT Music Awards
The Country Music Television Awards are happening in Austin at the start of the month, with the red carpet and award show hosted at the Moody Center. Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini will be co-hosts, while Gwen Stefani and Shania Twain are among the performers.
How to watch
Live coverage of the CMT Music Awards begins on Sunday, April 2 at 8 p.m. on CBS.
TV coverage and schedule
Date: Sunday, April 2 at 8 p.m. (CBS)
The Masters Tournament
The most famous tournament in golf returns to Augusta this April. Past champions, including Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, receive a lifetime invitation to the field. Winners of other major tournaments, such as the U.S. Open and British Open, also have honorary entry for a few years, depending on the event.
How to watch
Live coverage of the Masters begins as early as Monday, April 3, while tournament play kicks off Thursday, April 6 and continues through Sunday, April 9. Pre-tournament coverage, including "Live From the Masters,” will air on Golf Channel, while Rounds 1 through 4 of play will air on ESPN and CBS.
TV coverage and schedule
Dates: April 3 to April 9 (ESPN, CBS)
Par 3 Contest: Wednesday, April 5 from 3–5 p.m. (ESPN)
Round 1: Thursday, April 6 from 3–7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Round 2: Friday, April 7 from 3–7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Round 3: Saturday, April 8 from 3–7 p.m. (CBS)
Round 4: Sunday, April 9 from 2–7 p.m. (CBS)
NCAA Hockey Men’s Frozen Four
The men’s Frozen Four kicks off with a matchup between Boston University and the No. 1 seed Minnesota, followed by a battle between two ranked teams: Michigan and Quinnipiac. Both the Gophers and Wolverines return to the Frozen Four for the second year in a row.
This is Minnesota’s 23rd trip to the NCAA men’s Frozen Four.
MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
How to watch
Live coverage of the men’s Frozen Four runs from Thursday, April 6 to Saturday, April 8, with semifinal games happening two days before the title game. All games will air on ESPN2.
TV coverage and schedule
Dates: April 6 to April 8 (ESPN2)
Semifinals
No. 1 Minnesota vs. Boston University: Thursday, April 6 at 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 2 Quinnipiac vs. No. 3 Michigan: Thursday, April 6 at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
National Championship: Saturday, April 8 at 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
WNBA Draft
All eyes will be on the Fever at the 2023 draft, as they hold the No. 1 pick—and with it, the keys to South Carolina star Aliyah Boston. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live just a week after one of the most well-watched women’s NCAA tournament in history concludes.
How to watch
Live coverage of the WNBA draft will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 10, airing on ESPN.
TV coverage and schedule
Date: Monday, April 10 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA Play-In and Playoffs
The NBA Play-In Tournament will be the first hint of the postseason for professional basketball fans, with games running across four days in the middle of the month before the playoffs officially begin on April 15.
The Play-In Tournament pits the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds against each other, with the winner clinching the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser then plays a game against the winner of the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds to clinch the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
How to watch
Live coverage of the NBA playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 15, with the conference semifinal games at the start of May (though a possible move-up is in the picture). Prior to that, play-in games will start on Tuesday, April 11 and go through Friday, April 14. All games will air on a combination of ABC, ESPN and NBA TV, with exact times TBA.
TV coverage and schedule
Dates: April 11 to April 15 (ESPN2)
Boston Marathon
The 127th Boston Marathon is back, with more than 200 athletes competing on the professional team in one of the most coveted races in the world. Marathon world record holder and double Olympic marathon gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge will make his Boston Marathon debut, along with reigning World Athletics Marathon champion Gotytom Gebreslase.
How to watch
Live coverage of the Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 17 on ESPN starting at 8:30 a.m.
TV coverage and schedule
Date: Monday, April 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
The NHL season is winding down, with the playoffs tentatively scheduled to start in mid-April. Hockey fans have a while to go before the official end, though, with the 2023 Stanley Cup Final game scheduled for the start of June.
How to watch
Live coverage of the NHL playoffs begins on Monday, April 17, airing on ABC, ESPN and NHL Network. Exact game times and matchups are undetermined.
TV coverage and schedule
Dates: April 17 to June 3 (ABC, ESPN, NHL Network)
NFL Draft
Held at Union Station in Kansas City, Miss., the 88th annual NFL Draft is fast-approaching after the conclusion of the combine in early March. With names like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. on the board, the draft is sure to give NFL fans (specifically, Panthers fans) new players to be excited about.
How to watch
Live coverage of the NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 27 and continues through Saturday, April 29. It will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
TV coverage and schedule
Dates: April 27 to 29 (ABC, ESPN, NFL Network)
Round 1: Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
Round 2–3: Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m.
Round 4–7: Saturday, April 29 at 12 p.m.
