Peacock plans to combine outstanding live and on-demand content with a freemium business model to get millions of subscribers. Here’s what you can expect from Peacock’s subscription plans.
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Who Can Subscribe to Peacock?
Peacock’s nationwide rollout won’t happen until mid-July, but subscribers to Xfinity’s cable broadband service can get Peacock right now. Both companies are owned by Comcast so Peacock gets to leverage an enormous customer base. There are some limitations, however. Peacock only works right now with Xfinity-provided devices like the X1 wireless cable gateway or the Flex streaming box.
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.
Peacock Plans and Pricing
Peacock will have three service offerings. The first will be a free, ad-supported plan that provides access to a limited amount of content. The second will be the Peacock Premium plan that, while still ad-supported, unlocks all of Peacock’s content for $5 per month. Finally, the Peacock Premium+ plan will remove most advertising for an extra $5 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 will be available with a 7-day free trial when it rolls out nationally. Xfinity subscribers can get a free trial of Peacock Premium+ right now.
How Do You Renew Peacock Subscriptions?
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.
