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- Peacock is a new streaming service featuring NBCUniversal TV shows, movies, original series, live sports, and news programs.
- The platform launched with an early trial for Xfinity X1 and Flex customers on April 15, and the streaming service will be available for everyone on July 15.
- Peacock's base plan is ad-supported, offering a limited catalog of titles at no cost.
- A premium version of Peacock's ad-supported service is available for $4.99 per month, giving subscribers the ability to stream even more content, including original series and films.
- For those who don't want to sit through commercials, Peacock premium is also available in an ad-free tier for $9.99 per month.
Peacock is a new streaming service that makes hundreds of NBC TV shows and Universal films available for free. Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent company, will officially launch free and premium versions of Peacock on July 15, though some Comcast internet and cable customers can already access an early trial of Peacock Premium.
Peacock was intended to launch alongside the 2020 Olympics to provide a live stream for the Summer Games in Tokyo, but the linchpin event has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the major disruption, NBCUniversal is still proceeding with plans to launch Peacock as scheduled.
Peacock has brokered deals for new original series produced by Tina Fey and Kevin Hart, as well as rights to stream classic series like "Law & Order" and "Will and Grace." "The Office," a perennial Netflix favorite and one of NBC's most beloved series, will move to Peacock in January 2021.
In anticipation of the wide launch later this month, we've broken down some of the basics related to this new streaming service, including full details on pricing, plans, and content.
Updated on 7/9/2020 by Kevin Webb: Added new details about supported devices and discounted pre-order pricing for Peacock.
What is Peacock?
Peacock is a new streaming service created by NBCUniversal with three subscription plans: free, premium, and premium ad-free. The platform offers a collection of TV shows, movies, and original series, along with live sports and news updates.
Content can be viewed via an on-demand library or via special streaming channels broken down by genres and franchises.
Peacock's catalog includes a mix of new and classic NBC shows, like "Saturday Night Live" and "Parks and Recreation," and Universal films, like the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Original programs will also be offered in the higher-priced tiers.
When can I sign up for Peacock?
Peacock will officially launch nationwide on July 15. With that said, an early preview of the service is currently available as an exclusive to Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex owners. X1 and Flex are streaming devices created by Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent company.
If you're not a Comcast subscriber, you'll have to wait until the Peacock app expands to more devices on July 15. You can pre-order a premium or premium ad-free subscription right now through the Peacock website.
Where can I watch Peacock?
Though a full list of supported devices is still forthcoming, Peacock's streaming app will be available on many smart TVs, including Vizio and LG models, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, Android TV, and Chromecast. The service will also be available through its official website. You can sign up at Peacocktv.com to receive an email when the service goes live on July 15.
If you have an Xfinity X1 or Flex device you can access Peacock's early trial now by searching for the app and entering your email.
How much does Peacock cost?
The base version of Peacock is free, but there are commercials. Peacock promises more than 7,500 hours worth of movies and TV with Peacock Free, but you can get access to twice as much content by upgrading to a Peacock Premium plan.
The Peacock Premium catalog includes new original series, gives subscribers access to exclusive content from NBC shows, like "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," and lets you watch ongoing shows, like "Saturday Night Live," the day after they air on TV.
Peacock Premium costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. People who pre-order a Peacock Premium subscription can get a 40% discount if they sign up for a full year, dropping the annual price to $29.99. The pre-order discount is available until July 14. Meanwhile, if you already subscribe to Xfinity internet or cable you get Peacock Premium for free with your current subscription.
However, Peacock Premium still has commercials. If you want to watch Peacock Premium without ads, you need to upgrade to the Peacock Premium ad-free plan for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. If you pre-order an annual Peacock Premium ad-free subscription, you can receive a 20% discount on your first year, bringing the price down to $79.99. This promotion will be available until July 14.
What shows and movies are on Peacock?
Peacock features more than 15,000 hours worth of TV and movies, though you'll need a Premium subscription to access the full catalog. NBCUniversal says about half of the catalog, more than 7,500 hours worth, will be be available with Peacock Free.
You'll be able to stream classic NBC shows, like "Law & Order," "30 Rock," "Parks & Recreation," "Friday Night Lights," and "Saturday Night Live." Peacock Premium users will also be able to access new episodes of ongoing NBC shows the day after they air. One of the most anticipated Peacock shows, "The Office," wont be available until January 2021, due to a prior agreement with Netflix.
Daily broadcasts from NBC News and MSNBC will stream on Peacock too, and subscribers can access past documentaries and "Dateline" investigations.
Universal film franchises, like "Fast & Furious," "Jurassic Park" and "The Bourne Trilogy," will be available in full on Peacock, along with classic movies like "E.T.," "Reservoir Dogs," "Schindler's List," and "Lost in Translation."
Peacock Premium subscribers will be able to watch new original shows, including a new Tina Fey-produced series called "Girls5Eva". A new comedy special and an interview series from comedian Kevin Hart are also in the works for Peacock.
Peacock will include exclusive children's content with new episodes of shows like "Curious George," "Where's Waldo," and "Cleopatra in Space." Universal kids films, like "Shrek", "Despicable Me," and "Trolls World Tour," will be part of the Peacock library as well.
Peacock will also feature live sports. Though the platform's launch was meant to coincide with the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the coronavirus pandemic has led to the postponement of the Summer Games until next year. Instead, Peacock will offer past Olympic highlights and exclusive interviews with Olympic athletes.
Eventually, the platform will also incorporate live NBC Sports broadcasts, like the "Premiere League," when sporting events resume.
For more streaming coverage, be sure to check out our guides to the best streaming services and the best streaming sticks and devices.
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