Peacock’s TV show library offers much more than NBC reruns
Peacock’s TV show library offers much more than NBC reruns
It might not have the flashiest originals, but Peacock delivers comfort, consistency, and 80,000 hours of bingeable TV.
When I think of Peacock TV shows, I think NBC comedies. My brain goes to classics like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.” But I think that’s a product of what I like to watch because there’s a lot more to be found on Peacock if you dig a little deeper. I’m not a reality TV guy, but my wife is, and Peacock is quietly stacked with reality shows, true-crime series, along with some really great originals (looking at you “Poker Face”) that have helped carve out its brand a little more clearly.
Peacock doesn’t lock itself into one lane — it’s got a little of everything, even if its identity feels a bit more like NBCUniversal’s greatest hits than a curated vibe like Apple TV+ or Max. Still, the app’s evolved a lot in 2025, and I wanted to dig in. What’s working with its subscription TV library? What’s still missing? Is the back catalog strong enough to justify a subscription?
My wife and I have the Peacock Premium subscription, and there’s now a Select tier that doesn’t include access to the entire library. I break down what’s in each of those tiers below, but for the rest of the article, note that I’m talking about the full Peacock library available in the Premium subscription level.
So, here’s my take on where Peacock stands today — what I like, love, and still wish for. Feel free to drop your own takes in the comments below.
Everything you need to know about the Peacock streaming library:
What’s included in each of Peacock’s subscription tiers?
Peacock currently offers three subscription tiers: Select, Premium, and Premium Plus. At first glance, the names sound similar — but what you actually get with each plan is pretty different, especially after a recent shift in what’s available at the $8 per month level. The changes have caused a bit of confusion, so here’s a full breakdown to help you figure out which tier makes the most sense for you.
Peacock Select is the lowest-cost plan at $8 per month, but it comes with some big limitations. This tier gives you access to some next-day NBC and Bravo episodes and a smaller rotating collection of TV shows. What doesn’t it include? Peacock Originals and the full back-catalog of NBCUniversal series. This plan was quietly introduced in 2025 as a more stripped-down offering, and it’s not the same as what Premium used to be at the same price.
Peacock Premium is now $11 per month and unlocks the entire library — over 80,000 hours of content — including all Peacock Originals, big movie drops, live sports (like Sunday Night Football and Premier League), and full-season archives of shows like “The Office” and “Yellowstone.” Premium still includes ads, but you’re getting the full experience.
If you want an ad-free version with downloads and live access to your local NBC station, that’s where Premium Plus comes in at $17 per month. Just keep in mind: all three plans include very different content access, so price alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
Here’s the chart Peacock provides to give you a sense of its offering:
What TV genres does Peacock do really well?
After diving into Peacock’s full TV library, three genres jump out at me: crime procedurals, reality TV, and comfort comedies.
Let’s start with the obvious. Crime and medical dramas are everywhere on Peacock. You’ve got the entire “Law & Order” franchise, most of the One Chicago universe (which includes “P.D.,” “Fire” and “Med,” less “Chicago Justice”) along with “New Amsterdam.” It’s the kind of stuff you can throw on while making dinner and just let run.
The second big strength? Reality and unscripted TV. Peacock pulls in next-day episodes and full back catalogs from Bravo and E!, which means wall-to-wall “Real Housewives,” “Below Deck,” “Top Chef,” “Vanderpump Rules,” and even “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Original reality is on the rise too — “The Traitors” has become a breakout hit, and “Love Island USA” just hit a massive milestone, becoming the streamer’s most-watched original ever.
And finally, you can’t talk about Peacock without mentioning comfort comedy. “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “30 Rock,” and “St. Denis Medical” along with some of my favorite Peacock originals like “A.P. Bio,” “Based on a True Story” and “The Resort” which I think is the best under-the-radar drama on the platform. And that’s only naming a few… the library goes much deeper (more on that soon).
What TV genres could Peacock do more of?
If I could wave a magic remote (like the one Adam Sandler has in “Click”), I’d add more bold, high-concept originals. Something like “Mrs. Davis,” which mixed religion, tech, and comedy in a way only Damon Lindelof could pull off. Or “Twisted Metal,” which went from a shaky start to a wildly fun second season. There’s also “The Day of the Jackal” that was a great addition.
But those are exceptions. Peacock doesn’t have its own “The Handmaid’s Tale” or “House of the Dragon” — a breakout show that dominates the cultural conversation. “Yellowstone” got pretty close (it’s the must-watch drama in my mind if you just signed up), but that’s actually a Paramount+ property, and it does feel a little weird that it lives on Peacock.
Peacock is also pretty thin on fantasy and superhero stuff. If you’re looking for sprawling genre worlds, Disney+ and Max still run the table there. “Brave New World” was one early attempt, but it didn’t last. Same goes for adult animation — Peacock hasn’t really carved out a lane there yet either. “In the Know” was a strange podcast/puppet/comedy TV show hybrid that didn’t really work. And it does have the TV show version of ted” (a prequel to the movies), which is a live-action/animation hybrid that I loved. But if it wants to challenge Hulu or Netflix in that space, it might need to invest in a few bold, animated originals.
How often does new content drop on Peacock?
The answer: pretty regularly. Peacock benefits from next-day drops on almost every current NBC and Bravo show — “The Voice,” “Law & Order,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Chicago Fire,” “Below Deck,” etc. Those drop the morning after they air. Same goes for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “The Tonight Show.”
When it comes to originals, Peacock usually rolls out one major title per quarter. Over the last year, that’s included “Poker Face,” “The Traitors,” “Love Island USA,” “Bel-Air,” and most recently the second season of “Twisted Metal.” It’s not a flood, but between those and the steady drip of next-day TV, there’s almost always something new to check out.
My wife and I basically treat Peacock like our DVR for NBC comedy (for me) and Bravo (for her). She’s all over “Real Housewives” and “Summer House” while I’m watching new eps of “Late Night,” re-runs of “The Office” and the new season of “Twisted Metal.”
How deep is Peacock’s show library?
This is where Peacock really shines. Peacock subscribers at the Premium level get access to over 80,000 hours of content. That includes full runs of “The Office,” including “The Office: Superfan Episodes,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “New Girl,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Superstore,” “The Middle,” and “That ’70s Show.” You’ll also find older fan favorites like “Extras,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” “Girls5eva,” “The King of Queens,” “Roseanne,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Night Court.” And if you’re looking for deep cuts, there’s a surprising selection of vintage TV like “Kids in the Hall,” “Here’s Lucy,” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” — and a whole lot more.
If you’re more into long-running dramas, Peacock is a goldmine. “Suits” blew up in 2023 when it landed on both Netflix and Peacock. You can also stream full slates of “SVU,” “Chicago P.D.,” and older, popular shows like “Charmed” and “Bones.”
Reality fans get the goods too. “Top Chef,” “Real Housewives,” “Project Runway,” and “American Ninja Warrior” are all here from the beginning. And if true crime is your thing, “Dateline NBC” has hundreds of episodes ready to stream.
Only caveat: like other streamers, some licensed content rotates out. Hallmark titles left in May 2025 when they launched their own platform. But the core NBCUniversal stuff isn’t going anywhere.
Too long didn’t read summary
My wife and have had the annual Peacock Premium subscription for years, and it’s still totally worth it in 2025. The streamer delivers next-day hits, deep library content, and a few originals that surprise us. If you’re into procedurals, reality TV, comfort sitcoms, or true crime, Peacock nails all of it. I’m hoping we get more genre swings and bigger-budget originals soon, but even if they stay at the same Originals release pace, there’s enough here to keep us watching.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.