Peacock Is Now Available: Everything You Need to Know About Plans, Pricing, Features, TV Shows & Movies

NBCUniversal’s Peacock has officially launched nationwide. Parent company Comcast initially gave access to their Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, but as of now, the streaming service is officially available to download across most devices.

Although its national launch has been highly anticipated, the timing has fostered some doubts over the last three months, leaving executives questioning whether they should move forward with the launch or not. Back in April, Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock, said the company was evaluating whether to launch earlier.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic made a big impact on the production of original series. While the company hoped to launch with more, they are launching with only nine original titles across drama, unscripted and kids.

Despite the minor setbacks, Strauss revealed the April launch of Peacock on Xfinity X1 and Flex out them “in a stronger position” than they anticipated despite the pandemic. Though they have had to make adjustments with their launch plans, the streamer has remained buzzworthy as they have announced the various platforms they’ll be on at launch as well as new programming they have in the pipeline, including live sports events.

Peacock Pricing

Peacock includes a free tier featuring more than 7,500 hours of movies and shows. The service also offers Peacock Premium, which includes 15,000 hours of movies and shows, for $4.99 per month, as well as an ad-free tier for $9.99.

• Peacock Free: $0
• Peacock Premium (with Ads): $4.99 a month* ($50 / year)
• Peacock Premium Plus (No Ads): $9.99 a month* ($100 / year)

*Comcast and Cox customers, get a $5 discount on the service, meaning that Peacock Premium is available for free, while Peacock Premium Plus (No Ads) is $4.99 a month.

Supported Devices

For the early launch, Peacock was made available exclusively on Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex devices.

Since then, the company has struck deals to bring the service to Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Xbox, VIZIO SmartCast TVs, LG Smart TVs, iOS, and Android. Starting the week of July 20th, it will become available on PS4.

Notably missing from the list are Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Just last week, CNBC reported the streamer was no closer to getting on the two platforms as negotiations are still underway. In fact, CNBC’s sources said the possibility of inking any deals with either platform are “less than 10 percent.” We have learned that apps have already been completed for both platforms, so a deal just needs to get struck for them to appear.

Features

Interface

When you first launch Peacock, the service will show Trending Clips from around the NBCU family. Whether this is breaking news, sports highlights, or clips from your favorite late night or variety shows.

If you swipe left, the service has editorially created live channels at launch with access to live news, clip-based channels featuring the best Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers comedy sketches, the best sketches from the SNL Vault, and of episodes of The Office (when it joins Peacock).

If you swipe right, you can access TV shows, movies, kids content, and live sports. When you tap on a show you can view details and see episode information for TV shows.

User Profiles

Peacock won’t have user profiles available at launch. It is a top priority item for the service after launch.

Simultaneous Devices

Peacock will let you stream on up to three devices at the same time. You can add the app to as many devices as you want.

Offline Downloads

Peacock is built on the same platform as Sky’s Now TV platform, which supports offline downloads. However, at launch it won’t offer offline downloads. It’s expected to come to the ad-free tier sometime after launch.

4K Content & Dolby Audio

Peacock won’t offer any content in 4K, HDR, or Dolby Vision. While the service supports Dolby Digital, they don’t currently support Dolby Atmos.

Parental Controls

Just like other streaming services, Peacock will let you can set a pin to prevent kids from accessing content they shouldn’t. They don’t however, have a speciality curated Kids Mode like HBO Max and Disney+

Available Content

The free tier houses 13,000 hours of content, while Peacock Premium hosts more than 20,000 hours of current TV shows, classics, and movies. See a list of the biggest movies, TV shows, original programming, kids shows and sports events here.

Live Channels

The service will have 20-plus editorially created live channels at launch — expanding to 75-plus over the first year, which will create a lean-back experience to access content. Streamers can access live news and clip-based channels featuring the best Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers comedy sketches, the best sketches from the SNL Vault and episodes of “The Office” (when it joins Peacock next year).

TV Shows

Peacock will come with a slew of programs on NBC’s current season, including “Law & Order: SVU,” “Blindspot,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Fire,” among others. On the ad-supported plan, Peacock programming will feature approximately five minutes of commercials or less per hour.

In addition, Peacock will offer an array of programming, including new and classic content from Telemundo; iconic comedies, competition series, must-see reality and docuseries.

Comedies

• “King of Queens,”
• “Everybody Loves Raymond”
• “Two and a Half Men”

Competition Series

• “Hollywood Game Night”
• “American Ninja Warrior”
• “Face Off”

Reality Series

• “The Profit”
• “Million Dollar Listing NY”
• “The Real Housewives of Dallas”
• “Chrisley Knows Best”

Docuseries

• “Dateline”
• “American Greed”
• “Snapped”
• “Forensic Files.”

“The Office,” “The Mindy Project,” “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and “Roseanne” will be among the shows joining the platform later this year and into 2021.

Movies

While the film library will come equipped with classics such as “E.T.,” “Meet the Parents,” “Schindler’s List,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Children of Men,” while “Bridesmaids,” “The Hurt Locker” and “The Big Lebowski” will be part of the film roster going into next year.

Kids

Peacock’s selection of kids programming will include staples such as “Care Bears,” as well as new and exclusive episodes of “Curious George,” “Where’s Waldo?” and “Cleopatra in Space.”

Originals

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the streaming service will launch with only nine originals on the platform, the rest are expected to continue production and rollout when it’s safer to do so.

Dramas, Comedies and Movies

• “Brave New World”
• “The Capture”
• “Intelligence”
• “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home”

For Sports Fans
“In Deep with Ryan Lochte”
“Lost Speedways”

For Kids

• “Where’s Waldo?”
• “Cleopatra in Space”
• “Curious George”

More original series and films debuting in the future:

• “Angelyne” 
• “Rutherford Falls” 
• “Battlestar Galactica”
• “Punky Brewster”  
• “A.P. Bio”
• “Dr. Death” 
• “Hitmen” 
• “Real Housewives Mash-up” 
• “Saved by the Bell” 
• “Five Bedrooms” 
• “Lady Parts” 
• “Girls5Eva” 
• “Code 404” 
• “Who Wrote That” 
• “Kids Tonight Show” 
• “The Amber Ruffin Show” 
• “Armas De Mujer” 
• “Caso Cerrado”
• “Madagascar: A Little Wild”
• “The Mighty Ones”
• “TrollsTopia”

Sports

Though Peacock debuts without the Olympics — which were postponed to next year — the service still managed to bring live events to the platform, just in time for the launch. Last week, NBCUniversal announced Peacock Premium will stream 175 exclusive Premier League matches in the 2020-21 season. All content previously presented on NBC Sports Gold’s “Premier League Pass” will shift exclusively to Peacock Premium.

In all, Peacock Premium users will have access to more than 1,500 hours of Premier League live match and shoulder programming coverage – the most robust offering ever available in the U.S., according to the company. Included in the deal are full-event replays for all 380 matches on-demand (after 9 p.m. ET).