Peacock raising prices for the third year in a row
Peacock raising prices for the third year in a row
The NBCUniversal streamer is reportedly increasing its subscription rates as of Wednesday, July 23.
Peacock subscribers are getting the unwelcome news that most streaming customers have received at some point in the past year: their subscription price is going up once again. As first reported by Joe Adalian of Vulture, Peacock has announced it is raising prices on both of its streaming plans starting Wednesday, July 23, marking the third year in a row the streamer has decided to up its rates in mid-July.
Key Details:
- Not a small increase: Peacock is raising the price of its ad-supported plan by nearly 40%.
- Less content for less money: The streamer will test a new Peacock Select plan that offers less content for a lower price.
- Key survival tactic?: The price increase comes as Comcast moves forward with a plan to spin off most of its cable channels for an increased focus on streaming.
As of Wednesday, July 23, Peacock will begin charging new subscribers $11 per month for the ad-supported Premium plan, an increase of almost 40% over the $8 per month it currently costs to subscribe. The ad-free Premium Plus subscription will rise from $14 to $17 per month.
Existing customers will see these rates go into effect in their first billing cycle on or after Aug. 22. This is the biggest price increase Peacock has ever rolled out at one time since the streamer launched in 2020, and it means that Peacock will have one of the most expensive ad-supported plans of any streaming service, beating out Netflix ($8 per month), Disney+ ($10), HBO Max ($10), and Prime Video ($9).
Peacock will also test a new “Peacock Select” plan in the near future, which will offer an assortment of NBC and Bravo titles, but will not come with any sports programming. This plan will cost $8 per month, though there’s no guarantee it will become a permanent feather in the Peacock display.
The announcement comes two years to the day after The Streamable reported on Peacock’s first-ever price increase, which drove the cost of a subscription to $6 per month for ad-supported service. In 2024, the streamer announced in April that it would be hiking the cost of a subscription yet again in July just before the start of the Summer Olympics. Following that last price increase, data shows Peacock saw a revenue increase of almost 50%.
When I predicted which streamers I thought would raise prices in 2025 at the beginning of the year, I wrote that I wasn’t sure which way to go on Peacock, especially since its parent company spent a huge amount to acquire a package of NBA rights starting this fall. In addition to that outlay, Comcast is in the process of spinning off most of its cable channels into a separate company, in order to heighten its focus on its streaming service and the Universal movie studio.
With less linear TV revenue to depend on, more money coming in from Peacock — which has yet to yield a regular profit — is essential for Comcast. So, while it’s no doubt dismaying to consumers to see the price of Peacock rise once again, it’s not much of a surprise from an analyst’s point of view.
What do you think of the news that Peacock intends to raise its prices for the third year in a row? Are you a subscriber who plans to cancel your account thanks to the news? Let us know in the comments below!
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.