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NBC Peacock review: Price, content and features
NBCUniversal joins the world of streaming to bring you hours of your favorite network TV and movies.
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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
- WWE Network. Stream live PPV events with no extra fee and on-demand WWE content with Peacock Premium.
- Free trial. 7 day trial of Premium tier available for new customers.
Cons
- Ads. Free streaming is only possible with a few ads.
- No Amazon devices. As of launch these devices aren’t compatible.
What's in this review?
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.
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 a free version of Peacock is available, new users can take advantage of a free seven-day trial to take Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus for a spin. If you decide to stick with the free version, simply cancel your plan from your online account within the week to avoid an automatic charge.
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
Peacock WWE Network deal
In April 2021, Peacock became the exclusive streaming home of WWE Network in the United States. In other words, Peacock subscribers get access to all live pay-per-view WWE events including WrestleMania and SummerSlam, as well as thousands of hours of new, original, and library WWE Network programming on demand and on a 24/7 channel.
WWE Network is only available with Peacock Premium, so you won’t get access to the catalog with a free account. However, the entire WWE library, including all PPVs, will be available on the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan, which is only $4.99 per month –less than what a fan used to pay to access WWE Network previously.
If you want to get rid of ads, get Peacock Premium Plus for $9.99, the same price you used to pay for a WWE Network subscription. The difference is that the price will now also buy you access to the entire Peacock library as well. Plus, you can download and go, meaning that you can save a show on a mobile device and watch later without burning mobile data.
Viewers expressed concerns during the initial transition from WWE Network to Peacock, as not all content was made immediately available. However, that should be fixed in the near future and Peacock viewers will have access to the entire WWE library. The first real test for the partnership comes with WrestleMania 37, which marks the first major WWE event streamed exclusively through Peacock in the US.
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 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
- Xfinity, Cox set top boxes
Game consoles and other streaming devices
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Desktop browsers
- Chromebook
- Playstation 4, Playstation 5
- Roku
Mobile devices
- Android mobile devices and tablets
- iPhone and iPad
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
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