Peacock is a new streaming service featuring NBCUniversal TV shows, movies, original series, live sports, and news programs.
Peacock debuted with an early trial for Xfinity X1 and Flex customers on April 15, and launched for everyone nationwide 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, officially launched free and premium versions of Peacock on July 15, though some Comcast internet and cable customers have had early access to the service since April.
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. Peacock will also feature live sporting events, like the Premier League and the 2021 Olympics.
With Peacock now available for everyone nationwide, we've broken down some of the basics related to this new streaming service, including full details on pricing, plans, and content.
Updated on 7/15/2020 by Kevin Webb: Added new details about supported devices and sports coverage on 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 officially launched nationwide on July 15. You can sign up for a free, premium, or premium ad-free subscription right now through the Peacock website.
Where can I watch Peacock?
Peacock's streaming app is available on Vizio and LG smart TVs, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, Android TV, Xbox One, and Chromecast. The service is also available through its official website. You can browse a full list of supported devices here.
If you have an Xfinity X1 or Flex device you can access Peacock Premium for free by searching for the app and entering your email.
Is Peacock available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or PlayStation?
Peacock is not yet available on Roku, Fire TV, or PlayStation devices. The Peacock app will launch on PlayStation 4 after July 20, but it's unclear when the app will arrive on Roku or Amazon Fire TV products. Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices are also currently missing support for HBO Max.
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. 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.
Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium ad-free plans both come with a free seven-day trial for new subscribers. If you already subscribe to Xfinity internet or cable you get Peacock Premium for free with your current subscription.
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, 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 also features live sports for free, including matches of the relaunched 2020 Premier League and the PGA Tour's US Open. 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.
For more streaming coverage, be sure to check out our guides to the best streaming services and the best streaming sticks and devices.Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: Here's what it's like to travel during the coronavirus outbreak