Wehave knownfor a bit of time now that yet another streaming service will arrive soon, this one coming fromNBCUniversalcalled Peacock.
And now all of the launch information is finally here. NBCUniversal has announced that the upcoming streaming service will launch on July 15, 2025, and when it arrives customers will have three different pricing options to choose from. There is Peacock Free, which, as you might guess, is the free option, which will offer up a limited amount of content to watch compared to the other two options.
Meanwhile, the second tier has a couple of options: existing Comcast customers can get this for free, but with ads, and all of Peacock’s available content. Meanwhile, for people who aren’t existing Comcast customers, this option will be available for $5 per month. And finally, Peacock Premium, which will cost $10 per month for anyone who wants it, which will come with all of Peacock’s content and show no ads.
Here’s how the content breaks down:
Customers of Comcast and Cox will get access to an ad-supported version of Peacock Premium at no extra charge if they want. Or they can get it for $5 per month without the ads. PerThe Verge:
Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Flex customers will get access to Peacock Premium on April 15th. The streaming service will launch nationally on July 15th. This means that for some 20 million households that use Comcast’s paid TV services, Peacock will be a free service designed to give them a streaming option for some of NBCUniversal’s most iconic shows.
And if you’re curious about Comcast ditching cable, don’t get your hopes up. The company says it’s not giving up on that effort anytime soon, even as it launches Peacock.
There will be exclusive, original content, too, including a reboot ofSaved By The Bell, andPunky Brewster. There will also be a series based on the filmMacgruberdeveloped for Peacock.
One big caveat:
Comcast and NBCUniversal used to be a part of Hulu, but Disney took over full control in 2019. As part of the deal, some NBCUniversal titles will remain on Hulu but slowly start to leave over the next few years. This includes day-after options, meaning that a new episode of a show is available to stream on Hulu after it airs on traditional cable or broadcast television. People who use Hulu to watchSaturday Night Liveon Sunday mornings may not be able to do so in three years when NBCUniversal’s deal with Hulu expires. For now,Saturday Night Livewill stream on both Hulu and Peacock, with older seasons of the show only available on one.
The entire Harry Potter franchise will be exclusively available on Peacock as well. For now, anyway, before it ultimately makes the jump over to WarnerMedia’s HBO Max in the future.
Here’s what the service willlook like.
Peacock is going to be an interesting option at some point. Will it be worth the $10 per month? It certainly might be for some customers out there, especially with a healthy back catalog to built off of.
Will it be a direct competitor toApple TV+? None of these services see themselves in that way, even as they battle for viewers’ monthly subscriptions. But NBC definitely has a lot to offer.
What about you? Is this a day-one subscription for you?
