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What is Peacock?

Peacock is NBC Universal's streaming service, which launched in April 2020. The platform offers primarily on-demand content, along with a mix of live sports and other programming. You can find classic NBC shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, along with new original programming like Poker Face and Bel-Air. Soccer fans can also enjoy hours of live matches from the English Premier League.

Peacock dropped its free tier on Jan. 30, 2023, so it now only offers two premium subscription options. XFinity subscribers can still access the service for free, but others will have to choose from its paid plans, which start at $5 per month.

Curious if Peacock is still worth the price? Read on for everything you need to know about Peacock's on-demand and live programming.

Peacock Compared to Other TV Streaming Services

Peacock is an on-demand service. While Peacock offers curated channels like SNL, where it replays classic old shows, it does not have much in the way of major live TV channels. However, soccer fans can catch live Premier League matches and gameday coverage. 

Here's how Peacock compares to other on-demand streaming services:

As you can see from the table, Peacock stacks up favorably to many of the on-demand services available when it comes to affordability. Its ever-expanding on-demand content library, coupled with its array of classic TV show choices and premium soccer content, makes Peacock an enticing option to consider. 

How much does Peacock cost?

After discontinuing its free plan in January 2023, Peacock now has two packages available. 

The basic plan is known as Peacock Premium. For $5 per month, you get access to Peacock's entire on-demand library and live channels, including Premier League soccer matches. This includes exclusive Peacock original series like the Saved By The Bell reboot, Traitors, Poker Face, and more. You also receive next-day access to currently airing NBC and Bravo shows, allowing you to stay in the loop with your favorite shows. Fans of The Office will also enjoy the extended-cut Superfan episodes only available on Peacock. The downside to Peacock Premium is that it includes ads. However, most ad breaks are only 30 to 60 seconds long.

The higher membership tier is Peacock Premium Plus. For $10 per month, you'll receive access to all content on the platform ad-free, along with your local NBC station. Plus, you can download and watch some shows and movies offline.

Peacock content and add-ons

Original Shows: The Vigil, Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, Bel-Air, Brave New World, American Ninja Warrior Junior, A.P Bio, The Capture, Saved By The Bell (reboot), Poker Face, Traitors

Classic TV Shows: Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond, Modern Family, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dateline, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Downton Abbey, Suits, and Real Housewives of Atlanta, The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock

Movies: Shrek, the Harry Potter film series, If Beale Street Could Talk, Knocked Up, Speed, Spoiler Alert, John Wick

Kids: DreamWorks Nursery Rhymes, Colossal Questions, Curious George, Chicken Run, Beethoven, Bird Karma, The Twisted Tales of Felix, Despicable Me

Sports: Premier League live streams and replays, talk shows like ProFootballTalk (PFT), supercross, rugby, speed skating, skiing, golf, pro wrestling documentaries, motorsports, and figure skating

News: Today, Meet The Press, NBC Nightly News, Morning Joe, The Reid Out, and The First 48

Unlike many other streaming platforms, Peacock does not offer add-on options. However, it does have a unique mix of Latinx programming. You can watch many popular children's programs, TV shows, sports, and movies in Spanish.

Peacock Features

Since Peacock is an on-demand platform, you will not need to record anything. Every show, movie, documentary, and other program is ready to view at your convenience. That means you don't have to manage DVR space to make sure you have enough room to record your favorite shows and movies.

One of the best aspects of Peacock is its sports programming. You can watch Premier League soccer games live, or catch replays and highlights, along with exclusive WWE events. Peacock also streams some major sporting events that are broadcast on NBC, which have included the 2022 Winter Olympics, Spanish broadcasts of the 2022 World Cup,  and Super Bowl LVI.

Sports fans will also find rugby, skiing, figure skating, and motocross. Fans of sports talk will love content like PFT, and wrestling fans can revisit some of their favorite documentaries. You will find sports on Peacock that are hard to find on other streaming platforms.

Peacock supported devices

Peacock offers its on-demand services on many devices. Xfinity subscribers can use their voice remote to access the Peacock app for free. Here is a list of all the devices currently supported, though this is subject to change in the future:

• Web Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, Safari

• Android Mobile & Tablets: 6.0 or above

• iOS Mobile & Tablets: 14 or above

• Amazon Fire TV and Fire Tablet with Fire OS 6.0 or above

• Apple TV

• Chromecast

• Hisense VIDAA

• LG Smart TV

• PlayStation 4, 5

• Roku

• Samsung Smart TV

• Viziio Smart TV

• Xbox One, X, S

• Cox Contour

• Xfinity

Is Peacock Worth It?

Peacock packs a lot of content into its on-demand platform. You have access to some of the most iconic shows and movies, along with a vast array of children's programming, movies, and sports. The platform is affordable compared to many on-demand competitors, starting at $5 per month with ads, or $10 per month without ads. And with three concurrent streams, everyone in your home can enjoy what they want on the platform. Overall, Peacock offers you a lot of value for your money, making it one of the better deals for on-demand platforms.