Comcast-owned NBCUniversal is making its own foray into the streaming wars with Peacock, with free and $5 ad-supported options, plus a $10-a-month option for ad-free viewing. The service is scheduled to launch on July 15, 2020.
Comcast launches $20-a-month streaming service with 40 live channels, Peacock and more
Peacock joins a host of competitors, including Netflix, Hulu (partly owned by Disney and Comcast/NBCUniversal), Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and CBS All-Access, vying for the attention of cord-cutters in the U.S.
There will, of course, be tiers that offer varying access to NBC’s shows and ads. The free tier will show ads and allow users to watch classic NBC shows, news and sports (including the Olympics). The $5 tier, known as Peacock Premium, will offer more content like Peacock originals, early access to late-night shows and more sports. It will be free with ads for Comcast and Cox subscribers, who can then pay $5 to go ad-free (a $10 tier for non-subscribers).
Whether it’s the low price, originals like the Alec Baldwin-led Dr Death (or that Saved By The Bell reboot), or a large stable of older content that will entice users to watch Peacock is unclear. The bottom line is that your choice of streaming options just got a little more complicated, if not more entertaining.
