Skip to Content
Newsletter Facebook Bluesky Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comBluesky

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

Sling TV

Who will be the next pope? Watch the conclave live

Who will be the next pope? Watch the conclave live

The College of Cardinals will decide on a new pope in the coming days or weeks, and we’ll show you how to watch coverage live.

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
David Satin
•
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
Multiple news channels will offer coverage of the papal conclave to select the next pope.

Watch for the white smoke! The College of Cardinals is convening in Vatican City beginning on Wednesday, May 7, as deliberations over who will be selected as the next pope begin. Viewers can watch live coverage of the papal conclave on ABC, CBS, Fox News, and other platforms. The selection process could take days, or even weeks, and to make sure you can catch all the relevant information live, we recommend watching with a subscription to Sling TV.

How to watch the papal conclave

Everything you need to know about papal conclave coverage

What time does papal conclave coverage start?

Fox News will offer daily live coverage of the conclave, beginning at 4 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 7.

ABC will provide daily live reports on “Good Morning America,” which starts at 7 a.m. ET. The ABC News Live free streaming channel will provide regular, live updates throughout the day.

CBS will begin an extended special report at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, and will offer special reports each time smoke emerges from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

When the new pope is selected, it will undoubtedly trigger a live news break-in at channels like CNN, NBC, and others who are offering less in the way of ongoing coverage.

Why do we recommend watching papal conclave coverage on Sling TV?

Sling TV carries Fox News everywhere in its Blue package, which costs $46 per month normally but is currently on sale for 50% off your first month of service if you’re a new subscriber. Sling’s got a wide variety of other news channels, such as CNN and MSNBC in the Blue package, and this plan also carries ABC in the following markets:

ABC market Channel call sign
Chicago WLS
Fresno KFSN
Houston KTRK
Los Angeles KABC
New York WABC
Philadelphia WPVI
Raleigh-Durham WTVD
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose KGO
Save with Sling
sling.com

Sling TV

Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord-cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.

You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.

Save with Sling
$19.99+ / month
sling.com

Can you watch papal conclave coverage for free?

It’s hard to say how long the conclave will take. The selection of a new pope could happen as early as Wednesday, or it could take weeks to complete. However, there are some streaming services with free trials that will allow you to watch at least some coverage at no cost.

DIRECTV offers ABC, CBS, and Fox News in its ENTERTAINMENT plan, which comes with a five-day free trial. Once that trial is complete, the package costs $85 per month.

Fubo also carries these channels in its Pro plan, which costs $85 per month, not including regional sports network fees. Fubo’s trial lasts between one and seven days, depending on what time of month you subscribe and other factors.

Hulu + Live TV provides ABC and CBS in most markets, and Fox News everywhere. It costs $83 per month after a three-day free trial, and includes the Disney Bundle free along with your subscription.

YouTube TV plans start at $83 per month after a trial of between two days and two weeks, the length of which depends on numerous factors.

Viewers can stream CBS coverage of the conclave with a subscription to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the ad-free tier of Paramount+. This plan offers a seven-day free trial to new subscribers.

Hulu’s ad-supported plan comes with a 30-day free trial, and coverage of the conclave is available on the ABC News Live FAST channel, which streams on Hulu at no extra cost.

Finally, YouTube will offer free, live coverage of the conclave via the Vatican News channel’s livestream of St. Peter’s Square.

What are all the services you can use to stream the papal conclave?

Sling TV is our favorite live TV streaming service for watching the papal conclave, but as discussed, you can also watch it on DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.

CBS coverage of the conclave is available to watch on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, as that plan includes a livestream of CBS content.

YouTube’s Vatican News channel is streaming live from St. Peter’s Square until the conclave is complete.

Disney+ and Hulu both offer the ABC News Live FAST channel, which will have ongoing coverage of the conclave.

DIRECTV Fubo Hulu Philo Sling TV YouTube TV
Free Trial Free Trial Free 3-Day Trial Free Trial Save with Sling Free Trial
$20.99 $9.99 $28.99 $25 $19.99 $29.99 $45.99 $45.99 $64.99
ABC + $24 + $59 + $61 - - ✓ - ✓ ✓
CBS + $24 + $59 + $61 - - - - - ✓
Fox News + $22 + $59 + $61 - - ✓ - ✓ + $18

About the papal conclave

The papal conclave sees the College of Cardinals convene to discuss the choice of the next pope. Two-thirds of the College must agree on the new selection in order to elect the pope, and once they do, white smoke will be sent up the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to announce that a choice has been made. Every session of the conclave that does not end in the selection of a new pope sees black smoke sent up the chimney instead.

There is no time limit for a papal conclave, so it could stretch on for several months until the College agrees on their selection.

Live TV Streaming Find out more >

Service Matchmaker

Our Matchmaker lets you compare multiple channels across all live TV streaming services. Just tell us what you watch and we’ll handle the rest.

Sling TV $20
DIRECTV $21
Hulu Live TV $90
Fubo $64
Philo $25
YouTube TV $83
The Streamable is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission when you sign up with our links. Learn More
David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
Facebook LinkedIn Reddit

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

DIRECTV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.