Due to the coronavirus pandemic, NBC and Comcast launched its streaming service Peacock early with a preview of its service for Xfinity and Flex customers, according to CNET. Regardless of the service’s availability for these customers, Peacock is still aiming to launch its service nationally on July 15, 2020. The early arrival of Peacock marks the introduction of NBCUniversal and Comcast’s streaming platform into the streaming wars against established services like Netflix and Hulu and new arrivals such as Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus.
Peacock’s wide release of its streaming platform was to coincide with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, due to the Olympics being postponed, the streaming service will launch on this timeline absent of its promotion. NBC’s streaming platform offers more than 15,000 hours of content which includes its vault of past and present programming. Peacock will feature series such as Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, The Office, and Law & Order in addition to various movies as well. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of Peacock’s original programming had to postpone its production and will not be released for the foreseeable future with the earliest program, Brave New World, to air sometime in 2020.
NBC and Comcast built its streaming service on three different subscription tiers. The first tier is a free limited service with almost half of its content readily available. The second tier is an all-inclusive service with ads which will be $4.99 (USD) per month. The third tier of Peacock subscribers will be an all-inclusive service without ads that will be $9.99 (USD) per month. Subscribers for the two paid tiers will receive the package of Peacock Premium which includes full access to the advertised 15,000 hours of content. Currently, the first and free tier is not available with its limited launch and is expected to be paired with the national release in July.
While today’s launch is only available for Xfinity and Flex customers, interested subscribers can sign up for email updates on its site before its ultimate July launch when Peacock shows its full colors.