Stream All the Drama: Here’s Why Peacock Rules Reality TV
Everything you need to know about Peacock’s unbeatable lineup of reality TV.
I have a special connection to reality TV. After I graduated from USC, I spent three years working for a reality TV producer as we tried to develop and sell unscripted TV shows. It was pretty cool to get a first-hand look at how the sausage is made. And while we never got a show on the air during my stint, it was my first “real” experience in Hollywood, and one I’ll never forget. Now, that was a long time ago, but fortunately, my wife is a current reality TV aficionado. And so when it comes to the best reality TV streamer out there, there’s really only one answer: Peacock. Let me tell you why…
Everything You Need to Know About Peacock
What Is Peacock?
Peacock is the subscription streaming service from NBCUniversal, which means it carries a ton of their content. It has original TV shows and carries Universal Pictures movies, including ones that just left theaters. Most relevant for this article, it also carries the entire library of Bravo shows, along with shows from NBC and E!. You can also watch live sports including NFL, MLB, WWE, Premier League, NASCAR, French Open, College Football and Basketball, and PGA Tour golf. Premium Plus subscribers can even stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
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,” and “The Office,” as well as original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports including NFL, MLB, WWE, Olympics, Premier League, NASCAR, French Open, College Football and Basketball, and PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
Why Peacock Is the Best for Reality TV
Peacock stands out as the best streaming service for reality TV fans for a few reasons. First, it’s got a massive library that caters to almost every kind of reality TV show. From high-stakes competition series like “Top Chef” and “Project Runway” to wild lifestyle shows like “Below Deck” and “Below Deck: Down Under,” to home / lifestyle shows like “Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles” to dating shows like “Love Island” Peacock’s collection is for real and it’s spectacular. It’s got just the right balance of classic favorites and the latest episodes of shows airing now to put it ahead of other streamers.
Second, one of Peacock’s huge advantages is its exclusive access to popular franchises. You’ve got “The Real Housewives” series, including “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Or you can catch up on the #scandoval of it all with “Vanderpump Rules,” or perhaps you’re a Carl and Lindsay stan and you want to see how all the drama went down on “Summer House.” Plus, Peacock offers early access to new episodes of some of these shows, allowing subscribers to see their favorite series before they air on linear TV. This is especially useful to avoid spoilers for big-season episodes like season finales.
Now, some other streamers deserve honorable mention here. Hulu and Netflix carry some popular reality TV shows, including Hulu’s newest hit “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” but their libraries are more generalized and don’t offer the breadth of reality TV that Peacock does. Same goes for something like Paramount+, which carries shows like “Survivor” and “Big Brother.” If you’re looking for one specific reality TV show, make sure to see which streamer carries it because it may not be Peacock. But if you’re a reality TV fan wondering which streamer gives you the most options, it’s Peacock.
What Hit Reality TV Shows Are Available On Peacock?
Peacock has a very strong collection of reality TV shows. If high-stakes drama is your style, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” delivers in every episode. Follow the lives of glamorous women in L.A. as they navigate friendships, rivalries, and high-society living. From jaw-dropping revelations to opulent parties, this show is a thrilling look into the lives of the rich and dramatic.
For cooking fans, you can check out “Top Chef,” which pits professional chefs against each other in intense cooking challenges. Each season, talented contestants compete for the coveted title, facing creative and high-pressure tasks that test their skills and inventiveness. Watching these pros work under tight deadlines is a masterclass in cuisine, with plenty of suspense and unforgettable dishes.
If love is your preferred game of choice, “Love Island USA” follows singles who live together in a villa and couple up to stay in the game. Public votes and in-house dynamics mean that relationships change fast, and drama is always afoot. Expect flirty moments, alliances, and shocking twists as contestants find love—or leave the island solo. For a summer romance vibe, this show is a must-watch.
For those yearning for the open waters, life at sea has never been more intense than in “Below Deck,” where yacht crew members work around the clock to serve demanding guests. With tight quarters, long hours, and plenty of personal drama, the show offers a behind-the-scenes look at the luxury yachting world. Crew dynamics and guest antics create a mix of tension, romance, and crazy moments. It’s a wild ride for anyone who loves workplace drama with a twist.
Finally, it’s hard to go wrong with a classic like “Vanderpump Rules,” which dives into the lives of employees at SUR, a trendy Los Angeles restaurant owned by “Real Housewives” alum Lisa Vanderpump. The show’s unique mix of friendships, feuds, and romantic messes keeps fans hooked, with plenty of unexpected moments that make it an unforgettable watch. While the future of the series is up in the air (please come back!), it continues to be a fan favorite in the reality TV world.
Here are some of the other popular reality TV shows on Peacock:
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Dateline
March 31, 1992Dateline NBC, or simply Dateline, is a weekly American television newsmagazine series. It was previously the network’s flagship newsmagazine, but now focuses mainly on true crime stories with only occasional editions that focus on other topics.
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Top Chef
March 8, 2006An American reality competition show in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges and are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants eliminated in each episode.
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Project Runway
December 1, 2004Aspiring fashion designers compete for a chance to break into the industry. Each week, a designer is eliminated from the competition after exhibiting their work in front of a judges’ panel.
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Below Deck
July 1, 2013The upstairs and downstairs worlds collide when this young and single crew of “yachties” live, love and work together onboard a luxurious mega yacht while tending to the ever-changing needs of their wealthy, demanding charter guests.
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Below Deck Down Under
March 17, 2022Set against the stunning backdrop of the tropical Whitsunday Islands and world-famous Great Barrier Reef in northeastern Australia, this series explores the complex, often explosive dynamics of the crew and a rotating group of demanding charter guests on M/Y Thalassa.
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Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
August 29, 2006Go inside the lives of top LA real estate agents as they broker big deals and drama.
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Love Island
July 9, 2019American version of the British dating reality competition in which ten singles come to stay in a villa for a few weeks and have to couple up with one another. Over the course of those weeks, they face the public vote and might be eliminated from the show. Other islanders join and try to break up the couples.
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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
October 14, 2010A reality series that follows some of the most affluent women in the country as they enjoy the lavish lifestyle that only Beverly Hills can provide.
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The Real Housewives of New York City
March 4, 2008A fast-paced reality show that follows several incredibly busy and ambitious Manhattan women. Watch as they balance envious social calendars, challenging careers, and motherhood, with the hustle and bustle of the big city all around.
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Vanderpump Rules
January 7, 2013Follow the passionate, volatile and hot-and-bothered-staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood mainstay SUR. Lisa balances her motherly instincts and shrewd business sense to keep control over this wild group of employees as they pursue their dreams and each other while working at her “Sexy, Unique Restaurant.”
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Summer House
January 13, 2017Take the beach town of Montauk, New York by storm while following a group of nine friends who make the exclusive enclave their go-to party spot between Memorial Day and Labor Day — that is, when they’re not hustling at their day jobs. You could say they work hard and party way harder.
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The Courtship
March 6, 2022A group of eligible suitors vie to win the heart of a heroine at a 19th-century English castle in Regency-style England!
How Much Does Peacock Cost?
Peacock has two tiers: Peacock Premium costs $8 per month with ads. If you want to upgrade to an ad-free experience, you can get Peacock Premium Plus for $14 per month, which will also get you a stream of your local NBC feed in all 210 markets. There’s also a Peacock Free tier now available to former paying customers, which includes 7,500 hours of programming including next day access of first-year NBCU shows, select movies, and complete classic series.
What Platforms Can You Watch Peacock With?
Peacock is compatible with a bunch of the top platforms. You can watch it on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast (Google Cast), Roku, Android TV, iPhone / iPad, Android Phone/Tablet, Mac, Windows, Xbox, LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, VIZIO Smart TV.