Although late to the streaming game, NBC Universal is betting that a freemium business model will convince people to give Peacock a shot — and then start paying. In this article, we’ll help you decide which of Peacock‘s plans is best for you whether you just want Peacock’s live streams or access to shows like The Office. We’ve also created a streaming guide for Peacock that you can view for free.
Who Can Subscribe to Peacock?
Peacock rolled out nationwide in mid-2020 with a built-in advantage. As part of the cable giant Comcast, Peacock has offered discounted pricing to the millions of subscribers to the Xfinity cable broadband service. Those deals were later extended to customers of Cox and other cable companies.
Unlike Disney+ which started a global rollout at the same time as its launch in the United States, Peacock will only be available in the United States. NBCUniversal executives have expressed interest in a global expansion but have not divulged any specific plans.
What are the Peacock Plans and Pricing?
Peacock has three service offerings. The first is a free, ad-supported plan that provides access to a limited amount of content. The second is the Peacock Premium plan that, while still ad-supported, unlocks all of Peacock’s content. Finally, the Peacock Premium+ plan removes most advertising for an extra monthly fee.
At the moment, Xfinity customers get the Peacock Premium plan free as part of their broadband service. They can choose to upgrade to the Peacock Premium+ plan.
The ads appear in on-demand TV shows and made-for-TV movies during the same commercial breaks you would get on live TV. However, you only have to watch one or two ads and the breaks last for a minute or less. That makes it a lot less intrusive than what you experience on live TV. Movies that were released in theaters have not been “edited for TV” and do not have commercial breaks.
Why Does Peacock Run Ads?
NBCUniversal’s direct-to-consumer strategy is based on its traditional way of doing business. It has an entire division dedicated to selling advertising to some of the largest companies in the world. Rather than rip up that business model, NBCUniversal executives decided to blend the old with the new.
Does Peacock Offer a Free Trial?
In addition to the free, ad-supported option, Peacock Premium is available with a 7-day free trial. Xfinity subscribers can get a free trial of Peacock Premium+ right now.
How Do You Renew Peacock Plans?
Peacock‘s paid subscription plans are billed on a monthly basis. As long as you retain the subscription, you will be billed at the beginning of the new month. The company has not said whether it will offer annual subscriptions.
There is no cancellation fee. If you decide to discontinue your paid subscription plan, you just do so through the account section on Peacock’s website. Although you won’t be charged for canceling, you won’t get a refund for the unused time. You will, however, still be able to watch Peacock through the end of the current billing cycle.
Chris Casper is a former tech industry product manager who escaped from California for New Mexico. Now he writes about science and tech while searching for the perfect green chile sauce.
