Peacock is yet another streaming service jostling in a very crowded field for your subscription dollars. The streaming platform is run by NBCUniversal. It derives its name from the stylized peacock logo used by NBC since 1956. Peacock boasts exclusive original shows, old favorites from the NBC archives, and feature films produced under the Universal banner. It joined an already overcrowded market.
Content
- Where Can I Watch Peacock TV?
- How Much Does Peacock TV Cost?
- How Do Peacock TV Plans Differ?
- What TV Shows Can I Watch on Peacock TV?
- What Movies Are Available on Peacock TV?
- What Are Peacock TV Exclusives?
- What Sports Programming Is Available?
- What Else Should I Know About Peacock TV?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Watch Peacock TV?
Since it’s launch, Peacock TV has rolled out to most major streaming devices, including:
- Roku
- Fire TV and Fire tablet devices
- Chromecast
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Samsung TV
- LG Smart TV
- Vizio Smart TV
- Cox cable boxes
- Xfinity cable boxes
- Android & iOS mobile devices
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Web browsers
Peacock offers a regularly updated list of compatible devices, including model numbers. So, if you’re looking for a device specifically for streaming this service, check the list first.
Currently, the service is only available in the United States. Sky and Comcast are working to bring Peacock to the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland in late 2021 or early 2022.
Also read: Which Roku Streaming Device Should I Buy?
How Much Does Peacock TV Cost?
The Peacock streaming service has one free tier and two paid tiers. Peacock Free is an ad-supported service that will be available to anyone willing to sit through commercials, which aren’t as frequent or long as standard TV ad breaks. Offering a free tier with both current NBC programming and classic favorites, such as “House” and “Psych,” makes them unique among premium streaming services.
Peacock Premium is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year. It’s still ad-supported, but you get access to Peacock’s full catalog of over 15,000 hours of content, including exclusives and live sports.
If ads are a deal-breaker for you, don’t worry. Upgrade to Peacock Premium Plus for $9.99/month or $99/year for all access and no ads. A limited amount of content will still have ads due to licensing rights, however.
Also read: YouTube TV vs. YouTube Premium: What You Need to Know
How Do Peacock TV Plans Differ?
Picking the right plan is important so that you can get access to the shows and movies you want to watch most. Of course, you’re free to upgrade or downgrade plans at any time. If you’re not sure, start with the Free plan and search for your favorite shows and movies. They’ll be clearly marked as either free or premium.
All tiers do get access to Live TV channels. These aren’t standard TV channels – they are curated live stations that may change in and out over time. For instance, there are dedicated stations to the original “Saved by the Bell” and “Psych.” There are also news stations, such as “Today All Day” and “Sky News.”
Peacock Free
As mentioned above, Peacock Free users will have to sit through the occasional advertisement during their binge sessions. Furthermore, users of Peacock Free have limited access to the full range of Peacock content. According to NBCUniversal, Peacock Free has around 7,500 hours of programming available. This includes the complete runs of classic TV shows and a selection of movies, as well as some Spanish language content and sports programming.
Additionally, Peacock Free allows users to stream episodes of currently running shows the day after they air. Some shows may not be available, though, until the full season has already aired.
Peacock Premium
Alternatively, Peacock Premium gives subscribers approximately 15,000 hours of content, and the number continues to grow. This includes all of the content available through Peacock Free, all of the platform’s original programming, and additional sports programming. Peacock Premium subscribers also have perks like not having to stay up late to watch the late night shows. Peacock Premium gives subscribers access to new episodes of “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and “The Late Show with Seth Meyers” at 8 and 9pm (Eastern).
While you still have ad breaks, sponsors will sometimes give you ad-free episodes after watching a 30-second ad before the show or movie begins.
Peacock Premium Plus
This is everything you get with Peacock Premium without the ads. The $5/month difference may be enough to make more budget-conscious subscribers stick with the ad-supported version.
There’s also one more perk. Some titles are available to download for offline viewing on mobile.
What TV Shows Can I Watch on Peacock TV?
Peacock TV has an extensive backlog of television programming. This includes everything from sketch comedy mainstay “Saturday Night Live” to the police procedural “Law & Order” and even reality guilty pleasures such as “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Furthermore, streamers have access to the heavyweights of NBC’s “Must See TV” lineups of years past. This includes shows like “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office.”
Some of the most popular shows currently on Peacock TV include:
- Yellowstone
- Downton Abbey
- A.P. Bio
- Friday Night Lights
- This Is Us
- Weeds
- Battlestar Galatica
- Modern Family
- Roseanne
- Frasier
Peacock also offers a wide variety of Spanish-language content sourced from the NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo, including popular telenovelas and series. Furthermore, A&E Networks has also licensed some of their A&E and History channel libraries to Peacock. Finally, consumers can watch the latest local and international news coverage, thanks to content from MSNBC, CNBC, TODAY, NBC Nightly News, and more. If you want a better idea of what shows Peacock includes, check out this complete list of TV shows streaming on Peacock TV.
What Movies Are Available on Peacock TV?
This is where the Universal side of NBCUniversal comes into play. Hundreds of movies by Universal Studios are currently on the platform. There have also been some same-day theatrical releases, such as “Halloween Kills” and “Boss Baby 2.”
Some of the most popular movies to stream on Peacock TV include:
- Harry Potter franchise
- The Croods
- Despicable Me
- Salt
- Trolls World Tour
- Back to the Future
- Lethal Weapon franchise
- Child’s Play franchise
- You’ve Got Mail
What Are Peacock TV Exclusives?
If you opt for Peacock Premium, you’ll not only have access to all of the classic TV shows you know and love but a slew of exclusive content as well. NBCUniversal has invested heavily in original content for the Peacock platform. This includes new originals like the Alec Baldwin-helmed “Dr. Death” and “Brave New World,” a show based on the Aldous Huxley book of the same name.
Peacock is also banking on the strength of viewer nostalgia. The streaming service is home to reboots of “Saved by the Bell” and “Punky Brewster.” Furthermore, the sci-fi classic “Battlestar Galactica” is getting the reboot treatment, orchestrated by “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail. Additionally, Peacock is tapping some heavyweights in the world of comedy to develop new shows for the platform. Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey are all contributing.
A few more Peacock TV originals include:
- Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol
- Psych 3: This Is Gus
- Rutherford Falls
- The Amber Ruffin Show
- Girls5Eva
- One of Us Is Lying
What Sports Programming Is Available?
NBCUniversal is also angling for sports aficionados with Peacock TV. In addition to exclusive TV shows, classic series, and blockbusters films, Peacock TV is the streaming home of NBC Sports content. This includes non-televised Premier League matches as well as extended coverage of the Ryder Cup.
You’ll find everything from the NFL to figure skating and everything in between. There’s also all the WWE you could ever want to watch.
What Else Should I Know About Peacock TV?
If you’re getting Peacock TV for the entire family or household, you can have up to three concurrent streams at any given time. While Peacock didn’t have user profiles at launch, this highly requested feature was finally added, giving you up to six user profiles per account.
Also read: Which Amazon Fire TV Stick Should You Buy?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I get Peacock Premium for free?
If you’re a Cox or Xfinity subscriber, you may be eligible to get Peacock Premium for free. Only certain plans and equipment are eligible. You can get the full details about Xfinity and Cox requirements directly from Peacock TV.
2. Are local channels included?
No. Peacock TV isn’t a replacement for your local NBC stations. You won’t be able to get your local news. Only major news outlets are included. Live sports are provided courtesy of NBC Sports networks.
3. Can I watch currently airing shows?
Most current TV seasons are available to watch the next day on Peacock TV. The free tier doesn’t include some shows. To access most all currently airing shows, you’ll need Peacock Premium. Also, certain shows, such as “Yellowstone,” are only available once the entire season has aired due to licensing agreements.
4. How can I watch Peacock TV on Linux?
Oddly enough, Linux is the one platform Peacock TV doesn’t work on. Even if you use Chrome, Firefox, or another supported browser, you’re blocked from watching.
There are two workarounds for this. First, use Oracle’s VirtualBox to install either Windows or macOS. Then, you’re free to watch. The second method is to cast your casting-supported mobile device screen to your Linux device.
5. Do I have to provide payment info to watch for free?
No. You can sign up and watch thousands of hours of free content without a credit card. This isn’t a free trial, so you won’t be asked for payment later either.
Wrapping Up
Peacock TV has quickly become a contender in an already competitive streaming market, especially by offering a free tier. For those outside of the United States, you will have to stick with either Netflix or Disney Plus or these free streaming sites to watch free movies.
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Crystal Crowder –
Staff Writer
Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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