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Peacock: Everything you need to know
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NBCUniversal joins the world of streaming to bring you hours of your favorite network TV and movies.
Peacock combines cable TV with the personalization you can only find with Internet TV. Watch hours of your favorite shows and movies without paying a dime — or spring for the $4.99 a month premium plan with no ads.
Details
| Service type | On-demand streaming, Pay TV |
|---|---|
| Free trial | No |
| Pricing starts at | $4.99 |
| Lock-in contract | No |
What's in this review?
Pros and cons of Peacock
Pros
- Stream for free. Access all content for free, with ads.
- Access the shows brought to you by NBC and Universal.
- Sports. Stream live sports and the Tokyo Olympics
- Free trial. 7 day trial of Premium tier available for new customers.
Cons
- Ads. Free streaming is only possible with a few ads.
- No Roku or Amazon devices. As of launch these devices aren’t compatible.
Peacock claims to offer the industry’s lightest ad-load, with a limit of five minutes every hour. And it manages how often you see the same ads with a frequency cap.
Peacock release date
An early version of Peacock Premium was released to Xfinity and Flex TV customers on April 15, 2020. Peacock officially launched its streaming service featuring all of its service tiers on July 15, 2020.
What features does Peacock offer?
In addition to offering a familiar selection of programs for free, Peacock offers a few other features:
Parental controls
Peacock states its streaming service is designed for viewers over 13 years old. It also notifies you every time your child accesses Peacock. However, you can’t block certain shows and movies from the platform.
Extra details
Clicking on a program lets you dig in to info like the cast list, their “Best of” video snippets and “Top 20” episodes, along with other programs actors played in.
Rotten Tomatoes scores
Peacock incorporates a Rotten Tomato (RT) score that appears when you hover over each title. A curated list of RT scores is also available within the app.
Voice control
With its voice control feature, you can search for programs and automatically send things to your phone with your voice.
What devices are compatible with Peacock?
Set-top boxes and Smart TVs
- Apple TV – 4th Generation and later
- Chromecast
- Apple AirPlay
- LG WebOS Smart TVs
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- Android TV Devices
Game consoles and other streaming devices
- Xbox One
- Desktop browsers
- Chromebook
- Playstation 4 (coming soon)
Mobile devices
- Android mobile devices and tablets
- iPhone and iPad
How much does Peacock cost?
Upon the April launch, Peacock streaming service is completely free, with a premium While you have the ability to stream 1,000+ hours for free, Peacock provides two different Premium plans to give you options.
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Free | 13,000 hours of content, ads |
| Premium (ads) | $4.99 a month | 20,000 hours of content, ads |
| Premium (ad-free) | $9.99 a month | 20,000 hours of content, no ads |
Free trial
Although there is already a free version of Peacock available, new users will be able to
Is premium worth it?
Either premium version gives you more hours to watch content with. While the highest premium tier offers streaming without ads, Peacock ads aren’t expected to last longer than five minutes per hour. The biggest difference between the tiers is the number of hours to stream. So, if you share your account and need more hours, than switching to the premium tier is worth it.
What can I watch with Peacock?
Peacock can best be described as a broadcast network disguised as a streaming service. A library with a variety of titles is expected, including a full list of Universal movies, and live coverage of major events like the 2020 Olympics and the 2020 Election.
The NBC live content is what will set them apart, offering current TV series and long-running programs like Saturday Night Live as well as the English Premier League and PGA golf.
In addition to the movies Lost in Translation, E.T and Despicable Me, you can expect to find late night TV programs like Jimmy Fallon and The Amber Ruffin Show. Dick Wolf titles like Law & Order and Chicago P.D. are set to be exclusive to Peacock as well. For a further breakdown you can see our list of best Peacock shows and top rated movies.
Peacock launch day originals:
Other Peacock original titles to look forward to are:
- Battlestar Galactica
- Girls 5 eva
- Saved by the Bell (remake)
- Rutherford Falls
How much data does Peacock use?
The restrictions your Internet service provider (ISP) puts on your data will determine how much you will need to stream content through Peacock. Peacock encourages you to check in with your ISP to verify whether you have enough data for streaming content.
Compare streaming services
If you’re looking to learn more about other streaming services, you can check out our Internet TV page and find the right service for you.
Frequently asked questions
Expert review
Review by
Alex Shea
alexius.shea@findercrew.comAlex Shea was a tech and telco writer for Finder.
Expert review
If you’re someone who’s found it hard to cut the cable cord because you want access to network favorites, queue up for the release of NBC’s Peacock. Live coverage of some of the biggest network events like the 2020 election, Tokyo Olympics and broadcast sports is what sets this streaming service apart from streaming giants like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+.