The unexpected death of Pope Francis at approximately 7:35 a.m. local time in Rome, announced at 9:45 a.m. local time, presented US television networks with a unique challenge. The news, breaking around 3:45 a.m. Eastern Time, caught many off guard, leading to varied responses across the country.
Most US stations typically switch to network feeds between 1:30 and 3 a.m. local time, but this isn't absolute. Many stations likely aired either repeats or early morning newscasts, often a mix of live and pre-recorded segments. The further west the location, the higher the likelihood of a tape-delayed broadcast, though networks retain the option of live feeds for significant events. This could result in anchors being interrupted mid-story, though viewers likely perceived this as a necessary shift due to breaking news.
Local stations also decide independently whether to carry special reports, depending on the story's perceived importance. ABC swiftly emerged as the first to report the news around 4 a.m. Eastern. “Good Morning America First Look” anchors Andrew Dymburt and Alison Kosik initially broke the story. George Stephanopoulos followed with another report about 15 minutes later, which affiliates carried until “Good Morning America” started at 7 a.m., though some opted for local news instead. “GMA” dedicated its entire tease headline segment to the event.
CBS News followed approximately four minutes later, with Jessi Mitchell announcing the death. A special report followed 16 minutes later, with another at 6 a.m. anchored by Tony Dokoupil. “CBS Mornings” commenced at 7 a.m. with a modified opening, quickly transitioning to the special report, enabling stations to join. The network initially employed a red special report look instead of its usual “CBS Mornings” graphics. Studio 1515's video walls displayed violet and gold graphics to reflect the solemnity of the occasion.
NBC's “Early Today” anchor Frances Rivera offered an initial report at 4:15 a.m., followed by a 6 a.m. special report with Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin. “Today” aired as a special edition with all tease headlines dedicated to the news.