NBCU Unveils Peacock Launch Details & Subscription Tiers

NBCUniversal has outlined new details regarding its Peacock streaming service, which will launch nationwide on July 15, with an early offer for Comcast customers.

NBCU revealed a tiered offering that gives consumers broad access to Peacock across web, mobile and connected-TV devices: Peacock Free, a free, ad-supported option with more than 7,500 hours of programming; and Peacock Premium, an ad-supported option that will additionally include full-season Peacock originals and tent-pole series, next-day access to current seasons of returning broadcast series and additional sports such as the Premier League (bundled at no additional cost to 24 million Comcast and Cox subscribers). The company expects to bundle Peacock Premium with additional partners in the coming months.

Premium customers can upgrade to an ad-free experience for an additional $5 per month, or any customer can purchase the ad-free option directly for $9.99 per month.

Xfinity X1 and Flex customers will have early-bird access to Peacock Premium starting April 15.

“This is a very exciting time for our company, as we chart the future of entertainment,” said Steve Burke, chairman of NBCUniversal. “We have one of the most enviable collections of media brands and the strongest ad sales track record in the business. Capitalizing on these key strengths, we are taking a unique approach to streaming that brings value to customers, advertisers and shareholders.”

“Peacock will provide consumers with a destination that goes beyond movies and television, aggregating a variety of content that fans want on one service,” said Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. “By delivering timely and topical content like breaking news, live sports, and watercooler moments from late-night, Peacock is uniquely bringing a pulse to the world of streaming that does not exist in today’s marketplace.”

Regarding programming announcements, Peacock will stream the hit brands from Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment, including Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. Peacock will also stream the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, alongside previously announced NBC classics such as 30 Rock, Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Office and more.

In the way of originals, Peacock inked a multiyear partnership with Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud (LOL) network, which includes an equity investment in the company, a first-look deal with LOL and the distribution of LOL’s catalog on the service. As part of the partnership, Laugh Out Loud will produce a Kevin Hart stand-up comedy special and an original interview series called Hart to Heart and a series of short-form content exclusively for Peacock.

Tina Fey is producing the original series Girls5Eva, about a one-hit-wonder girl group from the ’90s that reunite to give their pop star dreams one more shot. Also coming to the platform are international series from NBCUniversal International Studios, including the drama thriller The Capture and comedy Lady Parts, as well as three new comedies from Sky Studios: Intelligence, starring David Schwimmer, Code 404 and Hitmen.

Regarding sports, Peacock will provide a front-row seat for the Tokyo Olympics. It will feature live coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies before they air on NBC in prime time, and three daily Olympic shows: Tokyo Live, with live coverage of one of the day’s most exciting events; Tokyo Daily Digest, with mid-day highlights of the Games; and Tokyo Tonight, a complement to the prime-time show that will help audiences catch up on the day’s events. Starting in August 2020, Peacock will be home to 2,000 hours of Premier League coverage, including more than 140 matches that aren’t available on TV, as well as clips and replays. The Ryder Cup golf tournament will be coming to the service in September 2020 with featured groups of Europe’s and America’s best pairings.

Peacock will also have exclusive streaming rights for the 2020 Universal film slate and beyond in the network window. Films will include Fast & Furious 9 and Jurassic World 3.

For the children’s and family audience, Peacock will have access to the first pay window for DreamWorks Animation films Trolls World Tour, The Boss Baby 2 and The Croods 2. The service will also be the exclusive streaming home to new episodes of Curious George. New original series from DreamWorks Animation will also stream on Peacock, including TrollsTopia, Madagascar: A Little Wild, The Mighty Ones, Cleopatra in Space and Where’s Waldo? Additionally, popular family film titles from DreamWorks, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Kids will be available on Peacock, including Shrek, Shark Tale and Despicable Me.