Tech

How to stream the DNC live: Democratic National Convention live streams

Watch Joe Biden and Kamala Harris make it official.

Photo of P.J. West

P.J. West

Democratic National Convention live stream
  • This year’s Democratic National Convention starts Monday, running August 17-20.
  • Originally planned for Milwaukee, it will now be “hosted” from multiple locations—specifically, a series of live video speeches by participants.
  • It will stream on a variety of networks and cable news channels, including MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, and C-SPAN.
  • It’s also streaming via Amazon Prime Video, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
  • Senator Kamala Harris, this year’s Vice-Presidential candidate, headlines Wednesday night’s program.
  • Presidential candidate Joe Biden will accept the nomination in a speech on Thursday night.
  • Speakers throughout the week include former First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Governor Andrew Cuomo, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
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2020 Democratic National Convention schedule

The main programming will run from 9-11pm ET each night starting Monday night. Each night is built around a theme: “We the People” for Monday, “Leadership Matters” for Tuesday, “A More Perfect Union” for Wednesday, and “America’s Promise” for Thursday.

The speakers include:

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Monday, August 17

  • Former First Lady Michelle Obama
  • Senators Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Catherine Cortez Musto, and Doug Jones
  • Governors Andrew Cuomo and Gretchen Whitmer

Tuesday, August 18

  • Dr. Jill Biden
  • Senator Chuck Schumer
  • Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
  • Former Secretary of State and Presidential candidate John Kerry
  • Former President Bill Clinton
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Wednesday, August 19

  • Senator and Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris,
  • Former President Barack Obama
  • Former Secretary of State and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton
  • Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
  • Governors Michelle Lujan Grisham and Tony Evers
  • Former Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

Thursday, August 20

  • Former Vice-President and 2020 Presidential candidate Joe Biden
  • Senators Cory Booker, Tammy Baldwin, and Tammy Duckworth
  • Former Presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Yang.
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Which channels will carry DNC coverage?

A variety of channels will go all in on convention coverage for at least the key two-hour block each night. If you want the official stream, you can visit the DNC site. However, if you want your DNC experience narrated, here are the channels that will be broadcasting each night.

  • ABC will air the 10-11pm ET hour, with ABC News Live coverage beginning at 7pm ET.
  • CBS will air the 10-11 pm ET hour, with its CBSN channel streaming from 5pm ET on.
  • CNN will start its six-hour coverage at 8pm ET.
  • C-SPAN will air the 9-11pm ET program.
  • Fox News Channel will provide a right-tilting perspective in the 10pm ET hour.
  • MSNBC will do the opposite, bringing seven hours of left-leaning programming from 7pm to 2 am each night.
  • PBS will handle the two convention hours between 9-11pm ET each night.

How else can I stream the DNC live?

If you have Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or Roku, or an Amazon Prime Video subscription, you can stream the DNC feed directly.

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Kamala Harris Joe Biden Vice President
Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC-BY-SA) Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC-BY-SA)

Democratic National Convention live stream: What streaming services carry the DNC?

Depending on what channel you want, these streaming services will set you up to stream the DNC live.

Hulu Live TV

Hulu Live TV is a great way to stream live TV, as it comes with access to Hulu’s massive library of on-demand content. You’ll be able to choose from movies, shows, and Hulu’s original programming, and keep up with what’s new each month. Hulu plans even include a bundle option where you can access Disney+ and ESPN+ along with Hulu.

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Hulu Live TV sets you up with local channels and has a broad spectrum of entertainment and sports channels to review, including the full suite of ESPN channels, Cartoon Network, FX, HGTV, and even deep cuts like National Geographic and Syfy. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC all have homes on Hulu Live TV.

Hulu Live TV Logo
Hulu Live TV $69.99
Hulu Live TV
(no ads on
Hulu content)
$75.99
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Sling TV

If you’re looking for a streamlined, cost-effective streaming package, check out Sling TV. It offers two basic cable packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, each of which costs $30 per month. There’s also the third option of getting Sling Orange + Blue for just $45 per month. You’ll get more Sling TV channels by choosing Sling Blue, with its 40 channels including sports favorites like FS1 and NBCSN and cable mainstays like Food Network and Discovery Channel. But Sling Orange brings must-haves Disney Channel and ESPN as part of its package. For DNC streams and other news options, Sling Blue gives you a little more choice than Sling Orange, though each base package provides CNN.

Sling TV
Orange$35
Blue$35
Orange + Blue$50
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FuboTV

FuboTV started as a streaming service geared toward sports fans, but it’s evolved into a broadly-appealing option with entertainment and news options alongside its robust sports choices. Depending on the package, you can access as many as 180+ FuboTV channels. If you’re looking to be entertained, Bravo, IFC, MTV, and VH1 are options even at Fubo’s most basic tier. The Fubo channel list still includes plenty of sports, including the Fubo Sports Network, which has original programming mixing sports and humor. The FuboTV cost starts at $54.99 a month, and with Disney Media favorites like ABC, ESPN, and the Disney Channel now on board, some who were on the fence about Fubo are giving it another look.

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If you’re gravitating toward network coverage vs. cable news channel coverage, Fubo’s a good option for you.

fubo tv
Pro$69.99
Latino$79.99
Elite$79.99

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AT&T TV Now

If you’re already looking to AT&T for your wireless needs, you might consider AT&T TV Now to cover streaming for you. AT&T TV Now channels start with Plus and Max, which even include HBO. Then, AT&T plans expand from there, approaching cable selection and pricing with AT&T TV Now’s biggest packages. AT&T streaming also comes with Cloud DVR, letting you record up to 20 hours of TV per month. Starting at the Entertainment level, you can access nearly every channel (including C-SPAN!) carrying the DNC.

DirecTV Stream logo
DirecTV
Entertainment$69.99
Choice$89.99
Ultimate$104.99
Premier$149.99
DirecTV

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YouTube TV

The YouTube TV channel list includes local channels, sports options including ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, and NBA TV, and plenty to keep kids (and kids at heart) occupied, including Disney Channel and its companion channels, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network—all in one easy-to-access package. It even comes with a few Spanish-language channels like Telemundo and NBC Universo. YouTube add-ons include HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz. YouTube TV packages have some advantages over their competitors, including a generous DVR and multiple screens package. From one account, each user can create an individual profile to track favorite shows.

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If you’re looking for a DNC live stream on the three major cable news networks or the three major news networks, know you can stream it on YouTube TV.

Youtube TV
1 Month$64.99
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Vidgo

Vidgo offers a package for under $40 a month that pulls together more than 60 English-language channels into its National English Package. Vidgo channels include ABC, Fox, the ESPN family of channels (including ESPN Deportes), and it’s one of the few streaming services that carries BeIN Sports. But it’s like Fubo in that, even though it started out for streaming sports, it carries a lot more now. You might be surprised to know that Vidgo’s an option to stream ABC News Live as well as ABC and Fox News Channel—and then you chat about it online via Vidgo’s Social TV platform.

In Body Image
English Premium Package$66.33/ 3 months
English Plus Package$53/ 3 months
Spanish Mas Package$25/ 3 months
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News Channel Guides

CNNCNBCFox News Channel
HLNMSNBCESPNews

Live TV Service Guides

AT&T TV NOW CBS All AccessFubo TV
Hulu with Live TVPhiloPluto TV
Sling TVVidgoYouTube TV
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Streaming Device Guides

Amazon FireApple TVAndroid
ChromecastiOSPlaystation
RokuSmart TVsXbox

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