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They call it the Friday news dump — companies posting embarrassing news on a day the media is least likely to bother covering it. But Meta just took the Friday news dump to a whole new level with this announcement: It's disabled its AI characters for teen accounts, at least until the characters can behave themselves.

The news wasn't just dropped on Friday — it was dropped in an update to a blog post from last October.

"We’ve started building a new version of AI characters, to give people an even better experience," the note from Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram and Alexandr Wang, Chief AI Officer, now reads — an upgrade Meta has long promised. Then came the part that would give many kids a very un-Rebecca Black Friday.

"While we focus on developing this new version, we’re temporarily pausing teens' access to existing AI characters globally. Starting in the coming weeks, teens will no longer be able to access AI characters across our apps until the updated experience is ready. This will apply to anyone who has given us a teen birthday, as well as people who claim to be adults but who we suspect are teens based on our age prediction technology."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI launches age prediction for teen safety

The Instagram and Facebook maker wants to stress "it is not abandoning its efforts" on AI characters, according to TechCrunch. Still, this is clearly an admission that something has the potential to go very wrong with the current version of its AI characters, where teen safety and mental health is concerned.

Meta isn't alone in this discovery. Character.AI and Google both settled lawsuits this month, brought by multiple parents of children who died by suicide. One was a 14-year-old boy who was in effect groomed and sexually abused, his mother says, by a chatbot based on the Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen.

Blasted by a report from online safety experts, Character.AI shut down all chats for under-18 users back in October, two months after Meta simply decided to start training its teen chatbots to not "engage with teenage users on self-harm, suicide, disordered eating, or potentially inappropriate romantic conversations." Evidently, that training wasn't enough.

This isn't the first time Meta has had to backtrack on its ambitions for AI character accounts. In 2024, it removed AI personas based on celebrities. In January last year, it took down all its AI character profiles after a backlash over perceived racism.

The teen usage problem isn't a small one, either. More than half of teens 13-17 surveyed by Common Sense Media last year said they used AI companions more than once a month. For now, they'll have to do so somewhere other than Meta.

Lego and Crocs announced the beginning of a new partnership with the launch of the spectacular Lego Brick Clogs ($149.99), which look more like Legos than Crocs.

Described as a "multi-year global partnership," the brands will follow the new limited-edition Crocs with more product launches throughout 2026, starting in the spring. The future products will include "Crocs’ largest licensed assortment of unique Jibbitz charms" and more unspecified products for kids and adults.

“The Lego Group’s boundless imagination makes them the perfect match to Crocs’ wonderfully unordinary spirit,” said Carly Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer at Crocs, in a blog post. “We are both brands that pride ourselves in being built different, in celebrating self-expression, and in fueling creativity. I can’t wait for our fans to see what we’re creating together — we’ve truly broken the mold in a way that we never have before.”

The Lego Brick Clogs truly have to be seen to be believed. They're, dare I say it, brick-tacular.

The new Lego Brick Crocs in all their glory. Credit: Lego / Crocs Left: Enhance... Credit: Lego / Crocs Right: ...enhance! Credit: Lego / Crocs Introducing the Crocs x Lego Brick Clogs

The Lego website describes the Brick Clogs as "a new and imaginative silhouette, constructed with the playfulness of Crocs and the boundless creativity of the Lego brick." Shaped like Lego bricks, they feature four logo-stamped studs, Lego and Crocs branding, and a pivotable heel strap. The product description also states that the clogs are made with an easy-to-clean and quick-dry material.

These are definitely collectibles more than practical footwear, and a description on the Crocs website clearly states they're "not intended for all-day wear."

My favorite detail? The new Lego Crocs come with a Lego Minifigure — who is wearing his own pair of Lego Crocs. In fact, the Minifigure comes with mini Lego Crocs of his own in four different colors.

Swap out your Minifigure's mini Crocs. Credit: Lego / Crocs They're not practical, but we're here for them. Credit: Lego / Crocs

Crocs is known for its cross-brand collaborations and unique, limited-edition designs. The iconic ugly footwear brand has partnered with everyone from General Mills Cereal and 7/11 to Balenciaga. But this might be my favorite yet.

How to buy the Crocs x Lego Brick Clogs

The shoes are online now at both the Lego and Crocs websites, but they're listed as unavailable in all sizes. A "Coming Soon" notice says the shoes will be available Feb. 16. In the meantime, you can sign up for email notifications. The Lego announcement blog post also teases a second drop in the spring.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego / Crocs Crocs Lego Brick Clogs $149.99 at Lego
  Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Lego / Crocs Crocs Lego Brick Clogs $149.99 at Crocs
  Learn More

Just think, if you get your hands on these once-in-a-lifetime Crocs clogs, you too could look this cool:

Credit: Lego / Crocs

Once upon a time, there was an online video platform called Vimeo that internet users knew as the high-brow alternative to YouTube. If YouTube was known for its vloggers and amateur comedy skits, Vimeo was known as the place for well-produced short films by actual indie filmmakers. It had its own version of YouTube Premium, produced its own originals, and even received an Emmy nomination.

While Vimeo still technically exists, that version of Vimeo no longer does. Last September, Vimeo was acquired by the Italian tech company Bending Spoons. And now Bending Spoons has just laid off a significant number of Vimeo's employees.

Bending Spoons has confirmed the layoffs to TechCrunch but did not disclose just how many employees would lose their job. However, a former senior Vimeo engineer who left the company last month after 13 years, according to his LinkedIn, says the layoffs have nearly cleared out Vimeo entirely.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Reviving this account to say: Almost everyone at Vimeo was laid off yesterday, including the entire video team," Derek Buitenhuis posted to his account on social media platform X. "If you're looking for talented engineers, there are a few on the market."

"Sucks to see something I built killed by private equity in a technology company skin suit," Buitenhuis continued.

Vimeo’s now-former VP of Global Brand and Creative, Dave Brown, also confirmed on LinkedIn that they were part of the layoffs and a "large portion of the company" was impacted.

Vimeo was founded in 2004, and while it never quite reached YouTube's levels of success, it carved out a respectable position as the number two video platform by focusing on artists and the art of filmmaking. However, as TechCrunch points out, in recent years, Vimeo attempted to pivot into artificial intelligence, offering new AI tools to screenwriters and video editors.

In September 2025, Vimeo announced that it was being acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion.

The name Bending Spoons may sound familiar to you. In 2024, a Bloomberg article described the company as "private equity hipsters" for the app store generation. The company has been on a buying spree over the past few years, acquiring legacy tech brands like AOL, Evernote, MeetUp, and WeTransfer. The company has also acquired other video platforms like StreamYard and Brightcover, too. By now, Bending Spoons is known in the tech industry for buying up underperforming legacy brands, firing employees, hiring cheaper labor, and raising prices, a familiar private equity playbook.

Vimeo as a service continues to exist, providing paid video hosting subscriptions for ad-free uploads. As of now, it's unclear what changes Bending Spoons has in store for the platform.

You might have a dangerous browser extension monitoring your browser history and not even know it.

As the good folks at Lifehacker reported, cybersecurity researchers with LayerX identified 17 malicious browser extensions across Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, with some active for up to five years. (Disclosure: Lifehacker is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.) These malware-infected browser extensions are part of the GhostPoster campaign, first identified in December by Koi Security.

The Koi Security researchers originally identified 17 malicious browser add-ons, for a total of 34 dangerous extensions. The extensions are no longer available, but if you've already downloaded them, they remain active and must be manually deleted as soon as possible.

As Koi Security found, the extensions hide "a multi-stage malware payload that monitors everything you browse, strips away your browser's security protections, and opens a backdoor for remote code execution." LaxerX further reports that the malware can weaken websites’ security measures, hijack affiliate traffic, inject iframes and scripts that track users, and inject malicious scripts onto a user’s device.

Here's the full list of extensions, via LayerX and Lifehacker:

• Google Translate in Right Click

• Translate Selected Text with Google

• Ads Block Ultimate

• Floating Player – PiP Mode

• Convert Everything

• Youtube Download

• One Key Translate

• AdBlocker

• Save Image to Pinterest on Right Click

• Instagram Downloader

• RSS Feed

• Cool Cursor

• Full Page Screenshot

• Amazon Price History

• Color Enhancer

• Translate Selected Text with Right Click

• Page Screenshot Clipper

Some of these were quite popular extensions. Google Translate in Right Click, for instance, had more than half a million installs, according to LayerX researchers.

The malware in the extensions is known as GhostPoster, which hides malicious code in the extension's PNG logo. The researchers say the malware campaign relied on sophisticated methods that let it evade detection for years. So if you've downloaded any of these extensions, it's best to delete them right away.

Read more about the GhostPoster campaign at Lifehacker.

"Isn't it wonderful to be back in the theater and giving people what they truly want: moi?" So asks Miss Piggy in the trailer for The Muppet Show, which returns for a special episode on Disney+ and ABC this February.

SEE ALSO: 'The Muppet Show' teaser: Kermit returns to the Muppet Theatre for new Disney special

The one-night event revives the beloved Muppets variety series, which originally ran for five seasons from 1976 to 1981. All your favorites are back, from Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear to Gonzo and Statler and Waldorf. Plus, they'll be greeting new guests like Maya Rudolph, Seth Rogen (who also executive produces), and Sabrina Carpenter.

Carpenter already has history with the Muppets — specifically, with Miss Piggy herself. On the final stop of her Short n' Sweet tour, Miss Piggy was the Grammy winner's "Juno" arrest, which means that Carpenter was arresting her for being "too hot." We're sure that was music to Miss Piggy's ears.

You know what's not music to Miss Piggy's ears? What Carpenter tells her in the trailer: that her grandparents used to watch The Muppet Show. Maybe just stick to telling her she's hot!

For more of Carpenter and Miss Piggy's glamorous get-together (as well as more general Muppet chaos), check out the full trailer above.

The Muppet Show will also see the return of veteran Muppet performers Bill Barretta, Dave Goelz, Eric Jacobson, Peter Linz, David Rudman, and Matt Vogel.

The Muppet Show premieres Feb. 4 on Disney+ and ABC.

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SAVE $1,500: As of Jan. 23, the 65-inch TCL QM9K Mini LED QLED TV is on sale for $1,499.99 at Best Buy — a full 50% drop from its usual $2,999.99. All other sizes have significant discounts as well.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM9K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,999.99 Save $1,500.00   Get Deal

TCL has already generated some serious buzz in 2026. The TCL X11L was one of the most talked about CES 2026 TVs, and as of Jan. 20, Sony has handed its TV business to TCL. But there was one big TCL announcement from the fall that may have slipped under your radar: TCL quietly released a new mini LED flagship TV, the QM9K, in Sept. 2025. Every single size is at least 40% off at Best Buy now, including a full 50% discount on the 65-inch TCL QM9K. That $1,499.99 price tag looks so much better than the original $2,999.99.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Jan. 23, 2026)

The QM9K is a slight step up from the TCL QM8K, which is also seeing a jaw-dropping discount (60% off) at Best Buy. As our current pick for the best QLED TV for most people, the QM8K clearly gets plenty bright enough for most situations. Yet the QM9K manages to outshine even that, with peak brightness beaming up to 6,500 nits compared to the QM8K's 5,000.

The other big jump happens between the number of dimming zones: The QM9K packs up to 6,000 dimming zones (depending on how big the screen is), while even the largest QM8K maxes out at 3,800 dimming zones. The QM9K also features Bang & Olufsen audio. All of these tweaks add up to quite the immersive HDR and graphically-demanding gaming experience.

The other QM9K sizes on sale include 75, 85, and 98 inches.

SAVE $723: As of Jan. 23, get the LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming Monitor for $876.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's a discount of 45%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming Monitor $876.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $723   Get Deal

The right gaming monitor can completely change the way you experience your favorite games. So if you can splurge on one that rocks your world, you very well should. Thanks to this deal from Amazon, it's the perfect time to treat yourself and save some money while you're at it.

As of Jan. 23, get the LG 39GX90SA-W 39-inch Ultragear OLED Curved Gaming Monitor for $876.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's $723 off and a discount of 45%.

SEE ALSO: Shop the best Samsung deals this week: monitors, smartphones, and more

This immersive 39-inch curved OLED panel is all about keeping you in the middle of the action. It boasts a 3440 x 1440 resolution with deep, satisfying darker hues and eye-popping colors. It has a 240Hz refresh rate that promises smooth motion as well as a 0.02ms response time. Plus, it's compatible with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, both of which combat screen tearing.

Additionally, the monitor has a built-in WebOS platform that lets you skip the additional streaming device. You can use apps like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and more straight from the screen, so if you prefer simply to watch content on this big boss of a monitor, you can do that with no strings attached.

Whatever you use it for, this is an excellent price for the monitor and you should lock yours in now if you're ready to spend on a gaming monitor that delivers.

SAVE 17%: As of Jan. 23, the Apple Mac mini (M4) is on sale for $499, down from $599, at Amazon. That’s a 17% discount or $100 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini (M4) $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100   Get Deal

If you want the power of Apple’s latest silicon without the MacBook Pro price tag, the redesigned Mac mini is arguably the best bang for your buck right now. It’s super tiny, surprisingly powerful, and currently on sale. (What more could you want?)

As of Jan. 23, the Apple Mac mini (M4) is on sale for $499 at Amazon, down from $599. That’s a 17% discount or $100 in savings.

SEE ALSO: Apple's new, super powerful MacBook Pro might arrive soon

The new chassis is incredibly small. At just 5x5 inches, it’s roughly the size of an Apple TV box, making it easy to hide on any desk. Inside, it runs on the M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and GPU. Bonus: It now starts with 16GB of unified memory (double the previous generation's 8GB base), so it's fully capable of handling Apple Intelligence features and heavier multitasking.

Apple also finally added ports to the front for convenience. Just remember that this is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Display) situation — you get the computer, but you'll need to supply the monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

SAVE $29: As Jan. 23, get a like-new Kindle Paperwhite at a major discount. Shop a like-new Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon for just $114.99. That saves you $29 off its $143.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $114.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $29.00   Get Deal

How are your reading goals going this year? We're just a few weeks into 2026 and if you're finding it hard to fit in reading time, maybe you need a little extra help. A Kindle Paperwhite is an extraordinary device as it basically puts an entire library in your pocket. We love Kindles for their small lightweight design, always easy to carry on the go. And right now, you can get a like-new Kindle Paperwhite at a discount.

As of Jan. 23, like-new Kindle Paperwhites are down to $114.99. That saves you $29 off the usual price of $143.99. A brand new Kindle Paperwhite costs $159.99 so this refurbished model is nearly $50 cheaper. While this isn't the lowest price we've ever spotted, it's still a decent savings of 20% off.

But why go for a refurbished model? These models are basically brand new. They're the latest generation of Kindle Paperwhite, but they that may have previously been returned. However, Amazon's verified their efficacy. Each device has been tested for functionality, battery tested, charged, and software updated.

The Kindle Paperwhite is not only our favorite Kindle, but our favorite e-reader. It's quick, user-friendly. With 16GB of storage, that's enough space to store not just hundreds of books but thousands of them

Shop the like-new Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon for $114.99 and save $29.

The Moon is getting brighter each night as it works its way through the lunar cycle. It'll keep getting brighter and bigger until the Full Moon, on Feb. 1.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Jan. 23, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 22% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

You don't need any visual aids tonight, without you'll be able to see the Crisum and Fecunditatis mares. If you have binoculars you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater, and with a telescope you can also see the Apollo 17 landing spot.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon’s phases are part of a repeating lunar cycle that lasts roughly 29 and a half days, according to NASA. This is the length of time it takes the Moon to orbit Earth once. During this time, the Moon moves through eight separate stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward Earth, how much of it we see lit up changes as its position shifts around the planet. This changing angle of sunlight is what causes the Moon to look fully illuminated, partly lit, or nearly invisible at different times. The eight phases in the lunar cycle are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A talent.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

KNACK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A book.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

NOVEL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A small brass instrument.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BUGLE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Typically found atop a church tower.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SPIRE

Final Hurdle hint

To be inundated.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

DROWN

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 23, the Amazon Echo Studio is on sale for $189.99 with the on-page coupon code ECHOSTUDIO30. That's a savings of about 14% and drops it down to its record-low Black Friday price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Studio $189.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $30 with code ECHOSTUDIO30 Get Deal

Last fall, Amazon launched four new Echo devices specifically built for Alexa+ — including a superpowered Echo Studio smart speaker. Previously debuting in 2019, this is technically the Echo Studio's first update in six years, though it looks and acts quite different. The speaker saw its first discount ever during Amazon's Black Friday sale. And now that same discount has reappeared.

As of Jan. 23, you can pick up the Amazon Echo Studio speaker for $189.99 instead of $219.99. Just enter the code ECHOSTUDIO30 at checkout (or click "redeem" next to the on-page coupon) to shave $30 or 14% off the price.

According to Amazon, you "can't find any smart speaker that sounds this amazing at this size." Despite being 40 percent smaller than its predecessor (it measures 6.1 inches by 5.8 inches), it packs Dolby Atmos and spatial audio support. You can even link up to five Studio (or Echo Dot Max) devices to Fire TV Sticks and get a home theater sound going. Plus, of course, it' s built for Alexa+, the superpowered AI assistant that can do more than ever before.

As for the look, Mashable's tech editor says it resembles the Death Star, with a circular orb design and flat control panel. Whether or not that's a selling point for you, we think it's pretty sleek. It comes in two shades (both of white are on sale): glacier white and graphite.

Apple has been running behind the competition when it comes to built-in AI features on iPhones for a couple of years, but the company may finally be set to change this by the end of 2026.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported this week that Apple is planning a big overhaul for Siri in iOS 27, which would theoretically launch in September alongside the iPhone 18, based on historical precedent. With this update, Siri will finally gets its long-awaited AI makeover and turn into more of a chatbot à la ChatGPT. Apple will reportedly announce this at WWDC in June and deeply integrate the new AI-powered Siri into iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

SEE ALSO: Apple will refine Gemini for Siri use on its own, report says

According to Gurman, users will be able to ask Siri to search the internet, generate AI images, analyze files, and use personal information, such as calendar entries and text messages, to complete tasks in a new chatbot interface. The new AI tool will also be integrated into music, podcasting, and email apps, though it remains to be seen if this is something users can turn off or not.

Apple has been working on an AI-powered version of Siri for a while now, but delays have pushed it to (presumably, based on this report) late 2026, while companies like Google and Samsung already have similar features on their mobile devices. In fact, Apple recently announced that it's using Google's Gemini technology to power the new AI Siri.

When it launches, Apple will face steep competition, as Google, OpenAI, xAI, and Meta have been operating in this space for years. Of course, Apple is also the most popular mobile brand in the world, which givers it a big advantage over its rivals.

SAVE 22%: As of Jan. 23, the Xreal One Pro AR Glasses are on sale for $599 at Amazon, down from $769. That's a 22% discount or $170 in savings.

XREAL One Pro AR Glasses $599 at Amazon
$769 Save $170   Get Deal at Amazon

If you love your Steam Deck or your new iPhone but hate the neck strain that comes from looking down at a handheld screen for hours, Xreal has a pretty futuristic fix.

As of Jan. 23, the Xreal One Pro AR Glasses are on sale for $599 at Amazon, down from $769. That's a 22% discount or $170 in savings. It's also the best price we've seen this year.

SEE ALSO: XReal AR glasses get an upgrade and price drop in time for CES 2026

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth recently took these for a spin, and while the required USB-C tether left him with "mixed feelings," the utility was undeniable. He found that being able to float Slack and email windows above his laptop made him feel like he was "living in the future," effectively creating a portable multi-monitor setup wherever he worked.

Sure, the look gives off major "Terminator 2 vibes," but unless you're ready to spend $3,000 on an Apple Vision Pro, this is a much more realistic entry point into AR — especially at this price.

2025 was another year of movie magic, but only 10 films made the cut in the Academy's eyes to earn spots on the Best Picture Oscar nominations list. We found narrowing the best movies of the year down to only 10 to be impossible, instead opting for a list of the top 25. So, of course, there were bound to be a ton of snubs (and some welcome surprises) this year. (Zero nominations for Wicked: For Good? Nothing for Chase Infiniti or Paul Mescal? Preposterous!)

Even though we're a bit flabbergasted that a few of our favorites didn't make the list, the ones that managed to nab the nomination are definitely worth watching.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Oscar nominations: Full list of nominees

Want to get familiar with the best films of the year (at least by the Academy's standards)? We've rounded up how to watch all 10. Queue 'em up for a movie marathon that's sure to be one for the books.

Bugonia

The dynamic duo that brought us Poor Things — director Yorgos Lanthimos and actor Emma Stone — is back with Bugonia, a conspiracy caper that'll make you question everything. It also stars the fantastic Jesse Plemons as Teddy, a bike-riding beekeeper and conspiracy theorist who believes aliens live among us and are to blame for the current state of the world — one being the no-nonsense big pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone). He and his cousin enact a plan to kidnap Michelle and uncover the truth.

Bugonia was one of Mashable's top 25 movies of 2025, coming in at No. 11, so we're not surprised the Academy gave it a nod for Best Picture. It also picked up nominations for Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Read Mashable's review of Bugonia.

How to watch it: Stream it on Peacock Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Stream "Bugonia" on Peacock Starting at $10.99 per month Learn More

Bugonia made its streaming debut on Peacock on Dec. 26, 2025. Peacock subscriptions start at $10.99, but you can save about 17% by opting for an annual plan instead. There are also significant discounts available for students, young adults, military personnel, first responders, medical professionals, and teachers. Of course, you can also rent or purchase the film at digital retailers like Prime Video for as low as $5.99.

F1

Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list, F1: The Movie stars Brad Pitt as legendary Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes. After nearly three decades, he comes out of retirement to mentor a young hotshot rookie (Damson Idris) and lead a struggling team to victory. While it didn't earn a spot on our favorite films of 2025 list, audiences were obsessed with the film, flocking to theaters and giving it glorious reviews (currently a 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). Besides Best Picture, it also picked up nominations for Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.

How to watch it: Stream it on Apple TV+ Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV Stream 'F1' on Apple TV+ Free 7-day trial, then $12.99 per month Learn More

F1 is an Apple Original film, so it's streaming on Apple TV+, of course. If you're not an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can sign up for a seven-day free trial to watch the movie. After your trial period is up, it'll cost you $12.99 per month. You can also purchase it at digital retailers like Prime Video for $19.99.

Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro has brought everyone's favorite monster back to life with a stirring new adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel. It stars Oscar Isaac as the titular doctor who is trying to overcome the childhood trauma of losing his mother (Mia Goth) by resurrecting an exquisite corpse (Jacob Elordi). As Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review, "This misfit monster becomes a radiant analogy for self-love, as he is both horrid and beautiful, misunderstood and full of potential and love." Cracking the top five on our list of the best movies of 2025, we're happy the Academy gave Frankenstein its flowers. Beyond Best Picture, it's also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Production Design.

Read Mashable's review of Frankenstein.

How to watch it: Stream it on Netflix Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Stream 'Frankenstein' on Netflix starting at $7.99 per month Learn More

Frankenstein opened in select theaters in October 2025 and hit Netflix shortly after on Nov. 7. Netflix subscriptions start at just $7.99 per month if you don't mind watching with ads or $17.99 per month if you prefer to go ad-free.

Hamnet

Cracking the top 10 of Mashable's favorite films of 2025 list, Hamnet finds Academy Award–winning director Chloé Zhao back in the Oscar race. It's a heart-wrenching historical drama, based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, that offers a view of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his mystical wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley) from a different lens. When the pair loses their youngest son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), they weather their devastating grief in dramatically different ways. Be sure you have a box of tissues nearby. In addition to its Best Picture nomination, Hamnet also earned six other nods, including Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, and Best Directing. Unfortunately, our favorite sad boy, Paul Mescal, was snubbed.

Read Mashable's review of Hamnet.

How to watch: See it in theaters Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango See 'Hamnet' in theaters   Learn More

At the time of writing, the only way to watch Hamnet is in select theaters. However, we are expecting an early February digital release at retailers like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV. We'll keep you updated when a specific date is announced. As a Focus Features film, we also expect it to stream on Peacock at a later date.

Marty Supreme

Directed by Josh Safdie and distributed by A24, Marty Supreme is a major contender this awards season. Chalamet already won the Golden Globe for his performance and is now hoping to grab his first Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. In the sports comedy, he stars as Marty Mauser — a man with a dream to achieve greatness and bring the art of ping pong to the masses. It also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler, the Creator), Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher. Besides Best Picture and Best Actor, it's also nominated for Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Casting, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Screenplay.

Read Mashable's review of Marty Supreme.

How to watch it: Buy or rent it on digital as of Feb. 3 Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Buy or rent 'Marty Supreme' on digital $19.99 to rent, $24.99 to buy Shop Now

As an A24 film, we know that Marty Supreme will eventually make its way to HBO Max — likely not until April 2026. Until then, you can rent or purchase the film at digital retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV as of Feb. 3 for $19.99 or $24.99.

One Battle After Another

Part political thriller, part parenthood comedy, Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another is an absolute gem. As someone who has a hard time watching movies over 1.5 hours, this three-hour journey had me glued to the screen from start to finish. It's inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, One Battle After Another, and follows Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) as an ex-revolutionary who's living off the grid with his teen daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When his former nemesis and military antagonist Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) resurfaces and Willa goes missing, Bob must jump into action to find and protect her. It's our second favorite movie of the year, "not only for what it brings to cinema in terms of spectacle and spirit, but also what it has to say about America today," as Puchko puts it. It also scored the second-most Oscar nominations of any film: Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Supporting Actor (x2), Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.

Read Mashable's review of One Battle After Another.

How to watch it: Stream it on HBO Max Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max Stream "One Battle After Another" on HBO Max Starting at $10.99 per month Learn More

One Battle After Another made its streaming debut on HBO Max back in December 2025. The cheapest HBO Max subscription will cost you $10.99 per month, but you'll have to endure some ads along the way. Don't want ads? The price jumps up to $18.49 per month. You can also rent or purchase the film on digital retailers if you prefer for as low as $6.99.

The Secret Agent

Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent is a time-jumping political crime thriller that follows Marcelo (Wagner Moura), a tech expert in his early 40s, who's justifiably paranoid in his mission to escape his country's authoritarian regime. "It's a heavy topic explored with humanity, boasting such a compelling script, impeccable acting, and striking 1970s aesthetic that it's impossible to look away," Mashable's Shannon Connellan writes in her review. It also picked up nominations for Best Actor, Best Casting, and Best International Feature Film.

Read Mashable's review of The Secret Agent.

How to watch it: Buy or rent it on digital as of Jan. 27 Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Buy or rent 'The Secret Agent' on digital $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Shop Now

The Secret Agent makes its digital debut on Jan. 27, 2026, which means you can rent or purchase it at digital retailers like Prime Video and Fandango at Home for $14.99 or $19.99. Eventually, since it's a Neon film, we expect it to make its streaming debut on Hulu at a later date. Stay tuned.

Sentimental Value

A riveting family drama, Sentimental Value follows the reunion of sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) with their estranged father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), a charismatic, once-renowned director. Gustav offers Nora a role in his hopeful comeback film, but when she turns it down, he gives the part to a young Hollywood actress (Elle Fanning). It navigates the complicated relationships and dynamics that arise and dives deep into human emotions. Beyond Best Picture, it's also nominated in several other categories: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress (x2), Best Original Screenplay, Best Lead Actress, Best Directing, Best Film Editing, and Best International Feature Film.

How to watch it: Buy or rent it on digital Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Buy or rent 'Sentimental Value' on Prime Video $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Shop Now

Sentimental Value made its digital debut on Dec. 23 — you can rent or purchase it at digital retailers like Prime Video and Fandango at Home for $14.99 or $19.99. Eventually, it will make its streaming debut on Hulu alongside other Neon films. We're expecting a March streaming date, but stay tuned for more details to come.

Sinners

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is back with another smash hit. Puchko called it "easily one of the best movies of the year" back in April, and it ended up earning the top spot on our list in December. It's set in the 1930s Jim Crow-era South and stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers who return to their hometown with the goal of setting up a juke joint. Its grand opening is disrupted by something supernaturally monstrous. With bits of horror, history, and musical theater all sprinkled in, it's a genre-fluid movie in every sense of the term. Sinners took the Oscars by storm with a record-breaking 16 nominations. Essentially, every award it could be nominated for, it is.

Read Mashable's review of Sinners.

How to watch it: Stream it on HBO Max Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max Stream "Sinners' on HBO Max starting at $10.99 per month Learn More

Sinners made its streaming debut on July 4, 2025, on HBO Max. As noted above, HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month, but you can save money by opting for an annual subscription instead. Rather not sign up for a streaming service? You can purchase or rent Sinners at digital retailers like Prime Video for only $5.99 or $14.99.

Train Dreams

Based on Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella of the same name, Train Dreams follows a man's search for meaning as the 20th century arrives. Joel Edgerton stars as Robert Grainier, who grows into adulthood among the Pacific Northwest forests, where he helps expand the nation’s railroad empire. As Mashable's reviewer writes, "it's a steady, meditative, and at times devastating journey with many a conversation around the fire." It's also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song.

Read Mashable's review of Train Dreams.

How to watch it: Stream it on Netflix Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Stream "Train Dreams" on Netflix starting at $7.99 per month Learn More

You can stream Train Dreams on Netflix as of Nov. 2025. The cheapest Netflix subscription will run you $7.99 if you watch with ads or $17.99 per month if you watch ad-free.

SAVE $26.54: As of Jan. 23, get the Magic: The Gathering March of the Machine Booster Box for $123.45 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $149.99. That's a discount of 18% and below market value.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Magic: The Gathering March of the Machine Booster Box $123.45 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $26.54   Get Deal

There are always a ton of Magic: The Gathering expansions floating around at any given moment, and more on the way. If you want any hope of getting all the cards on your wish list or you just want to make great decks, you'll want to wait for some great sales, like this one going on at Amazon.

As of Jan. 23, get the Magic: The Gathering March of the Machine Booster Box for $123.45 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $149.99. That's $26.54 off and a discount of 18%. It's also well below market value.

SEE ALSO: The Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box has dropped below market price on Amazon

This booster box contains 36 packs, which equates to 540 additional Magic: The Gathering cards. That breaks down to 15 cards per booster, with at least 1 Multiverse Legend card per pack, 1-2 cards of rarity Rare or higher, and 1 traditional foil in every pack. You can also look forward to 3-5 Uncommons, 8-9 Commons, and 1 Land card each pack.

The set itself explores the fall of planes in the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse to the Phyrexian invasion. That means corrupted Planeswalkers and devious machines, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Whether you're building new decks for play or you're ready to add a whole new set to your collection, this is a good deal to go ahead and snag and get started cracking those packs.

SAVE $370: As of Jan. 23, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station is on sale for $429 at Amazon. That's nearly half off its list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station $429 at Amazon
$799 Save $370   Get Deal

Anker is well-known for its lineup of quality tech at budget-friendly prices — and the Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station is no exception. Its typical $799 price tag is already relatively low compared to competitors, but Amazon has dropped the price to make it even more affordable.

As of Jan. 23, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale for only $429. That's 46% or $370 in savings on a Mashable Choice Award-winning device. You'll notice a progress bar on the shop page below the price — this means it's a Lightning deal at Amazon. You'll have to grab it before that progress bar reaches 100 or before the timer runs out, whichever comes first.

Mashable contributor Lauren Allain spent some time with the second-generation Solix C1000 and called it "the perfect model for taking on a weekend camping trip or keeping around the house for occasional power outages." She credits its respectable 1,024Wh capacity, peak output of 3,000W, zippy 49-minute recharge time, and its convenient array of ports.

Compared to the previous generation, it has a fancier LCD display, charges quicker, and weighs less, plus two of its USB-C ports can now handle 140W (as opposed to 100W). And for what it's worth, the newer model is currently about $40 cheaper if you act fast.

PREORDER NOW: Nintendo is releasing a real life Talking Flower from the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game. Preorder now at Nintendo, before it arrives on March 13, 2026.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Talking Flower $34.99 at Nintendo
  Pre-order Here

For trinket lovers, you can never have enough tchotchkes to showcase all of your passions. With the upcoming launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Switch 2, Nintendo is bringing some of the game to life with a delightful new talking toy. A hallwark of Wonder are the sweet little talking flowers all along the path, which speak sweet affirmations as you play. If you've thought, "Wow, I need one of these flowers in real life," then this news is for you.

Nintendo is launching the Talking Flower figurine that actually speaks to you and can in ten different languages. Spontaneously throughout the day or whenever you press the Talk Button, the Flower will send you some words of encouragements. It will even comment on the time of day, temperature, and play the occasional background music.

The Talking Flower is available for preorder and will launch on March 13, 2026. Preorder it now at Nintendo for $34.99 and prepare for a springtime treat delivering some much needed affirmations.

Tesla has discontinued Autopilot in the U.S.

As odd as that may sound, given how adamant CEO Elon Musk has been about the importance of autonomous driving, it's more of a pricing reshuffle than an actual removal of any specific feature, but it's still going to annoy many users.

Here's what's happening: If you buy a new Tesla car in the U.S., you will no longer receive the Basic Autopilot set of features, which was previously included with every Tesla. Instead, you're getting Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, which is a feature that maintains set driving speed and slows down when there's a slower vehicle in front of you.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Robotaxis now drive without safety monitors in Austin. Or do they?

Basic Autopilot, which is no longer available in the U.S., also includes Autosteer, which is an important driving assistance feature as it keeps vehicle centered in the lane. The combination of Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer is what enables you to hit one button (or stalk) and basically have the car drive itself on a highway (with you paying attention, of course).

Sorry, this is your only option now. Credit: Tesla

It's worth noting that Tesla also offers Enhanced Autopilot in some countries outside of the U.S., which is a far more comprehensive set of features, as it includes Autosteer, Navigate on Autopilot, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, and Smart Summon.

In the U.S., Tesla configurator now offers just one option: Full Self-Driving (FSD), which costs $99 per month, and is still available as a one time purchase for $8,000, though that option is going away on Feb. 14.

Annoyingly, Tesla's configurator doesn't really mention the change. The word "Autopilot" simply isn't mentioned anywhere on the page.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The move is likely another (desperate?) Tesla effort to push customers to purchase FSD. But it's a very costly change for users who want Autosteer and don't really care about FSD (which is still beta software and does not offer autonomous driving, despite Musk having promised it for years), as they now have to pay $99 per month to get this feature. Even worse, Musk recently said that the price of the software will "rise as FSD's capabilities improve."

Buyers of Tesla's premium models — the Model S, Model X, and the "Cyberbeast" version of Cybertruck — get FSD for free, so this change doesn't really affect them. For anyone buying a new Model 3 or Model Y, though, it's FSD or (almost) nothing.

Judging by some of the comments on social media, people aren't happy about this change. Some have noted that cheaper, entry-level cars from other companies now come with these basic safety features whereas a Tesla Model 3 or Y doesn't.

Ironically, the situation is better in Europe, where most Full Self-Driving features aren't allowed yet. There, buyers still get Basic Autopilot with every new car, and can also opt for the Enhanced Autopilot, which costs half the price of FSD. This will likely change when (if) FSD gets the green light from European regulators, which, even more ironically, means that Tesla buyers in Europe will likely stop hoping (and petitioning) for it to happen.

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Best for regular season FuboTV 7-day trial, then $84.99/month Get Deal Best for affordability Sling TV Orange + Blue $23/month for your first month, then $45.99/month Get Deal Best for top weekend games Paramount+ with Showtime $12.99/month or $119.99/year Get Deal Best for Big Ten games Peacock Premium $10.99/month Get Deal Best for small school fans ESPN+ $29.99/month Get Deal

The 2025-26 men’s college basketball season is now well underway. The season's action began last November and will run until March, after which we get a 68-team single elimination tournament to determine the NCAA Division I national champion. That tournament culminates in the 2026 Final Four, the semi finals and championship games, held at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4 and 6 in Indianapolis.

In other words, that's a whole lotta college basketball. More than 5,000 games are played per season — in fact, it's closer to 6,000 — with each team playing 31 games in the regular season. And that number is set to increase in 2026-27.

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The University of Florida is the defending men’s college basketball national champion. The Florida Gators won the title in last year's San Antonio Final Four, clinching their third title overall and beating off competition from the Houston Cougars. Current favorites to win the 2026 national title include Michigan, Arizona, and UConn.

All of which means there's a near-endless amount of college basketball to watch this season. You just need to know how and where to watch your favorite teams.

Can I watch college basketball games without cable?

Yes, you can watch college basketball games without cable. For many games, if you can’t be there in person, the only way to watch is via online live streaming services. 

Some of the exclusive streaming services are ACC Network Extra, B1G+, ESPN+, FloHoops, Peacock, and SEC Network+. Even for those games on traditional TV channels, there are plenty of options to watch without cable or satellite TV. 

There are two main alternatives to cable or satellite TV. One option is cable replacement, such as FuboTV or Sling. They offer a variety of channels, but they will cost you. Another option is to get a streaming service connected to a specific TV network. Those are cheaper, but they also have fewer channels.

What channels are college basketball games on?

Knowing what channels broadcast your favorite team will help you decide what streaming services to select. Broadcast contracts are based on the home team, so we've put together a list of the TV networks with contracts connected to each conference. 

Here is a list of each conference and the channels and streaming services that will air games for each conference in 2025-26:

• America East — ESPN+

• American Athletic Conference (AAC) — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Atlantic 10 (A10) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, MASN, USA Network

• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, The CW

• Atlantic Sun — ESPN+

• Big 12 — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Longhorn Network

• Big East — CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2

• Big Sky — CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPN+, 

• Big Ten — Big Ten Network, B1G+, CBS, Fox, FS1, Peacock

• Big West — ESPN+, Spectrum Sports

• Colonial Athletic (CAA) — CBS Sports Network, FloHoops, MSG, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY

• Conference USA (CUSA) — CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Horizon — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Ivy League — ESPN+ 

• Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+ 

• Mid-American Conference (MAC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Mid-Eastern (MEAC) — No intra-conference national TV games

• Missouri Valley — CBS Sports Network, ESPN+

• Mountain West (MW) — CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, FS1, NBC Sports Bay Area

• Northeast (NEC) — YES 

• Ohio Valley (OVC) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ 

• Pac-12 Conference — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Pac-12 Network

• Patriot League — CBS Sports Network, ESPN+

• Southeastern Conference (SEC) — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+

• Southern (SoCon) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ 

• Southland — ESPN+

• Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+

• Summit League — CBS Sports Network 

• Sun Belt Conference (SBC) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• West Coast (WCC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Western Athletic (WAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+

In-season tournaments can make separate deals with TV networks. So for your favorite team, its road games and tournament games may appear on different networks than listed here. 

What are the best streaming services for college basketball?

The channels needed to comprehensively watch college basketball during the 2025-26 season are ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, Fox, FS1, FS2, Longhorn Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, SNY, Spectrum, The CW, USA Network, and YES. 

Additionally, you may want to consider streaming-only services like ACC Network Extra, B1G+, ESPN+, FloHoops, Peacock, and SEC Network+. Then for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, you’ll also need TNT, TBS, and TruTV. 

If you have all those options, you can watch nearly every game this season, but there are not enough hours in the day to watch every game of every basketball team this season. Here’s some help to select the best streaming services to see the teams and leagues you’ll watch the most. 

Most complete coverage: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV   Get Deal

FuboTV will be a great option for the college basketball regular season. Its Pro plan at $84.99 per month will give you access to hundreds of college basketball games. There is also a seven-day free trial. 

If you’re a fan of teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, you’ll want to upgrade to the Elite plan to get the ACC Network. The Elite plan is $104.99 per month. 

The biggest channels missing from the FuboTV lineup are TBS, TNT, and truTV. Those carry a large chunk of games during the NCAA Tournament, and the 2026 Final Four and national championship game are scheduled to be broadcast on TBS. To get those games, you’ll need to go elsewhere such as the B/R Sports add-on with Max. 

FuboTV Pro plan channels: CBS, FOX, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and USA Network. 

FuboTV Elite plan channels: CBS, FOX, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and USA Network. Plus, ACC Network, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS. 

Channels unavailable through FuboTV: Longhorn Network, MASN, SNY, Spectrum, TBS, TNT, truTV, The CW, and YES.

Most affordable cable replacement: Sling TV Orange + Blue Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling TV Orange + Blue   Get Deal

If you’re a casual college basketball fan, an option like Sling may be a good fit for you. With the Sling Orange plan, you get ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT for $45.99 per month (with an introductory deal of 50% off for the first month). 

You may want to increase your Sling tier if there are specific teams or leagues that you’re passionate about watching. The biggest channel that you can’t get through Sling is CBS, so you may need to look to Paramount+ to supplement this to catch all those games. 

Sling Orange plan channels: ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. 

Sling Orange & Blue plan channels: ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. Plus, FS1, truTV, USA Network, and Fox (in select markets). 

FOX is available on Sling TV in select markets. Those include Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. 

Sling Orange & Blue + Sports Extra plan: Fox (in select markets), ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TBS, TNT, truTV, and USA Network. Plus, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS2, Longhorn Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

There are other options through Sling with different price points for just the Blue plan or the Sports Extra package added to either just the Orange plan or just the Blue plan. 

Channels unavailable through Sling: CBS, CBS Sports Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY, Spectrum, The CW, and YES.

Best for CBS broadcasts: Paramount+ with Showtime Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime   Get Deal

CBS mainly shows college basketball games on the weekends, so if you’re mainly a weekend viewer until March, this would work for you.

Paramount+ gives you a seven-day free trial. To live stream CBS on Paramount+, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, and that is $12.99 per month. You can also choose the annual plan at $119.99 per year, and you save about $3 per month. 

Paramount+ also gives students a 25% discount. 

CBS Sports Network games are not available to live stream through Paramount+

Best for exclusive Big Ten games: Peacock Premium Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium   Get Deal

The Big Ten Conference will have games exclusively on Peacock this season, so to catch all those conference contests, you’ll need Peacock.

Members of the Big Ten Conference in 2025-26 include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin.

There are 58 Big Ten men’s basketball games scheduled to be broadcast exclusively on Peacock. Peacock Premium costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year.

Best for small school fans: ESPN+ Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN+ ESPN+   Get Deal

If your favorite team plays in the America East, Atlantic Sun, Ivy League, or Southland conference, then ESPN+ is the only way to watch those teams without going to the games. For many other leagues that don’t have many games on traditional TV channels, ESPN+ is the primary way to watch games.

The ESPN Select tier (for classic content, studio shows, and replays) is priced at $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year. ESPN Unlimited (all ESPN live channels and ESPN+ content) costs $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year.

Best channel selection: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV   Get Deal

YouTube TV offers a 7-day free trial. It is then $59.99 per month for the first two months. That will get you most of the way through the 2025-26 college basketball season. After the introductory rate, the rate is $82.99 per month starting in the fourth month. 

YouTubeTV Base Plan channels: CBS, FOX, ACCN, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS1, FS2, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, truTV, The CW, and USA Network,

Channels unavailable through YouTube TV: Longhorn Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SNY, Spectrum, and YES.