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Peacock is NBCUniversal’s paid streaming service for on-demand TV shows, movies, Peacock Originals, news, children’s programming, curated live channels, and selected live sports and events. In the United States, its current plans range from a limited TV-focused tier to a broader ad-supported plan and a mostly ad-free option with downloads and local NBC access where available.
It is especially useful for NBC and Bravo viewers, fans of specific sports rights, and people interested in Universal-related movies and Peacock-exclusive series. It is not a complete cable replacement, and having Peacock does not guarantee access to every NBC broadcast, local station, or game in a particular league.
What is Peacock, and who owns it?
Peacock is a subscription video-on-demand service operated by NBCUniversal, which sits within Comcast’s broader corporate structure. That ownership helps explain the service’s emphasis on NBC, Bravo, Telemundo, Universal-related film content, Peacock Originals, and NBCUniversal sports programming.
Unlike a traditional cable channel, Peacock is accessed through an app or website rather than through a cable package. Its programming combines several formats:
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- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- On-demand TV episodes and complete or partial seasons
- Movies and children’s programming
- Peacock-exclusive original series and specials
- Live sports and other events
- Live news programming
- 24/7 themed Peacock Channels for scheduled, lean-back viewing
See Peacock’s official service page and Comcast’s corporate background information for the company’s own description and ownership context.
What can you watch on Peacock?
NBC and Bravo shows
Peacock carries current and library NBC programming, along with Bravo shows and reality franchises. Depending on the title and its rights arrangement, the service may offer full seasons, selected episodes, or a rotating portion of a program’s catalog.
Examples include NBC franchises such as Law & Order and the Chicago series, as well as Bravo programming including The Real Housewives and Below Deck. Individual titles can change, so these examples should not be treated as a permanent catalog guarantee.
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Movies
Movies are a major reason to choose the standard Premium plan rather than the cheaper Select tier. Peacock’s film selection can include titles associated with Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, and licensed studios.
The catalog changes as licensing agreements rotate. Not every Universal film is permanently available, and theatrical movies do not necessarily arrive on Peacock according to one fixed schedule. Check the current listing before subscribing for a particular movie.
Peacock Originals
Peacock Originals are exclusive or platform-branded programs that are not simply part of ordinary NBC broadcast viewing. Examples listed in Peacock’s current Select-tier information include Love Island USA, The Traitors, Poker Face, Twisted Metal, and The Paper.
These Originals are excluded from Select, making the cheaper tier unsuitable if exclusive Peacock programming is your main reason for subscribing.
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Live sports and events
Sports are one of Peacock’s clearest differences from many general entertainment streamers. Depending on the season and rights agreement, Peacock may carry:
- Premier League soccer
- WWE programming
- Golf
- Cycling
- NBCUniversal sports coverage
- Major live events and special programming
Rights are divided among Peacock, broadcast NBC, USA Network, regional sports networks, league services, and other platforms. A Peacock subscription therefore does not mean that every NBC sports broadcast or every game in a league is included. Verify the specific event, competition, season, and plan on the official Peacock sports page.
News and Peacock Channels
Peacock includes live news programming such as NBC News NOW, along with other news and entertainment content. Its Peacock Channels provide scheduled, themed streams: instead of choosing an individual episode, you can watch a continuous channel-style feed.
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- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
Channels can still contain advertising, including for Premium Plus subscribers.
Telemundo and children’s programming
Peacock also includes Telemundo programming and children’s content. The exact selection and language availability depend on the current U.S. catalog and applicable rights.
Local NBC on Premium Plus
Premium Plus includes access to a live local NBC channel where available. This is not the same as receiving every local broadcast station nationwide, and it does not turn Peacock into a complete live-TV bundle or a universal replacement for an antenna.
Peacock plans and prices
Prices below were checked in August 2026 for the U.S. market. Promotions, taxes, bundles, third-party billing, and plan availability can change.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select | $7.99 | $79.99 | Limited TV-focused library, including NBC and Bravo content; excludes movies, sports, live events, Peacock Originals, and local NBC |
| Premium | $10.99 | $109.99 | TV, movies, sports, live events, Peacock Originals, and channels with ads |
| Premium Plus | $16.99 | $169.99 | Premium content, mostly ad-free on-demand viewing, select downloads, and local NBC where available |
Peacock describes annual plans as providing 12 months for the price of 10. Based on the listed annual prices, the effective monthly costs are approximately:
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- Premium: $9.17 per month
- Premium Plus: $14.17 per month
Annual billing only saves money if you expect to keep the service for most of the year. A monthly plan may be more sensible if you are subscribing for one event, a short sports season, or a single series.
Important: Peacock describes Select as a tier being tested. Its availability and included programming may therefore vary rather than representing a permanent universal plan. See the official Select-tier page for current details.
Which Peacock plan should you choose?
Choose Select if you mainly watch NBC and Bravo
Select may work if you want a narrower TV library and do not need movies, sports, live events, Peacock Originals, or the local NBC stream. It is not the right choice for most people whose main interest is Peacock’s broader catalog.
Choose Premium for the full service at the lower price
Premium is the default choice for viewers who want movies, sports, live events, Originals, channels, and TV programming while accepting advertisements. For many households, it offers the best balance between catalog breadth and price.
Choose Premium Plus for downloads, local NBC, and fewer on-demand ads
Premium Plus is most defensible when you specifically need select offline downloads, a live local NBC channel where available, or fewer ads during on-demand viewing. Paying more solely to eliminate every advertisement is a mistake because Premium Plus still permits ads in some content.
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- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Is Peacock ad-free?
No plan is completely free of advertising in every situation.
Premium includes ads. Premium Plus removes ads from most on-demand shows and movies, but advertisements or sponsorship messages can remain in:
- Peacock Channels
- Live sports and live events
- Sponsored programming
- A small number of shows and movies because of rights or programming arrangements
Therefore, “mostly ad-free on demand” is more accurate than simply calling Premium Plus ad-free. Peacock’s plan information and sports page describe these limitations.
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Peacock supports a broad range of devices, including:
- Web browsers on Windows and Mac, including Chrome 125 or later, Firefox 127 or later, Microsoft Edge 125 or later, and Safari 17.3 or later on Mac
- Android devices running Android 7.0 or later
- iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 16 or later
- Apple TV HD and fourth-generation or later Apple TV devices with tvOS 18 or later
- Chromecast devices from the second generation onward, including Chromecast with Google TV
- Google TV and Android TV devices
- Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices with Fire OS 6 or later, subject to Peacock’s stated exception for Fire Max 11
- Hisense VIDAA TVs version 5.0 or later
- LG TVs running webOS 3.5 or later
- Samsung Smart TVs from 2017 onward
- VIZIO SmartCast TVs from 2016 onward
- Supported Roku devices
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S
- Xumo TV and Xumo Stream Box
- Selected Xfinity, Cox, DIRECTV, and Spectrum provider boxes
- Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro
Compatibility is version- and model-specific. If you use an older smart TV, Roku, Fire Tablet, or streaming box, check the official supported-devices list before subscribing. You may not need new hardware if Peacock already works on a phone, computer, console, or television you own.
How many people can use one Peacock account?
One Peacock account can have up to six profiles, including Kids profiles, but it supports a maximum of three simultaneous streams.
Six profiles are for separate recommendations and viewing histories; they do not allow six people to watch at once. Peacock’s household policy is for personal, non-commercial use and does not permit ordinary sharing outside the household.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf a browser or device crashes, Peacock says the interrupted session may continue counting temporarily. If you receive a simultaneous-stream error after stopping playback, waiting about 10 minutes before trying again may resolve it. See Peacock’s stream-limit guidance, profile guidance, and household policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you download Peacock shows for offline viewing?
Yes, but offline viewing is limited to Premium Plus and to selected titles on supported mobile and tablet devices. It is not a permanent download library for the entire service.
Peacock’s current download rules include:
- Up to 25 downloaded pieces of content across devices at one time
- Some eligible titles can be downloaded only 10 times per account
- Watched downloads expire 48 hours after viewing begins
- Unwatched downloads expire after 30 days or when the title leaves Peacock, whichever comes first
- Logging out or uninstalling the app removes downloads from that device
These limits matter if you are planning to travel. Download titles shortly before leaving and confirm that the content is eligible. More details are available in Peacock’s offline-download help page.
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How to sign up for Peacock
- Open Peacock’s website or install the Peacock app on a supported device.
- Create a Peacock account or sign in.
- Select an available plan.
- Enter payment details, or activate through an eligible third-party provider.
- Sign in on your supported devices and start streaming.
Direct Peacock billing is managed through your Peacock account. If you subscribe through Apple, Google, Roku, Amazon, Xfinity, Verizon, DIRECTV, Spectrum, or another provider, that company may control billing, plan changes, and cancellation.
How to cancel Peacock
For a subscription purchased directly from Peacock:
- Log in to your Peacock account.
- Open the account or subscriptions area.
- Choose Cancel All Subscriptions.
- Complete the confirmation steps.
The service generally remains active through the current paid term and will not renew. Peacock generally does not issue refunds or credits for prior payments when you cancel or downgrade unless required by law.
If Apple, Google, Roku, Amazon, Xfinity, Verizon, DIRECTV, Spectrum, or another provider bills you, cancel through that provider instead. If you are switching from direct billing to a third-party offer, an existing direct subscription may need to fully lapse before the new subscription can be activated. Consult Peacock’s cancellation instructions if the cancellation control is missing from your account.
Peacock compared with alternatives
The best alternative depends on what you are trying to watch:
- Netflix is a stronger general-entertainment service, but it is not a direct substitute for Peacock’s NBC-focused catalog or specific live sports.
- Max is more closely associated with HBO, Warner Bros., and Discovery programming rather than NBC and Bravo.
- Paramount+ is a different fit for Paramount, CBS, and Showtime-related programming and selected sports.
- Disney+ is stronger for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and family programming.
- ESPN’s streaming service is more appropriate for sports-first households, but it does not replace Peacock’s movies, NBC shows, Bravo shows, or Originals.
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream may be better for viewers seeking a broad traditional-channel bundle. They generally cost more and solve a different problem than an on-demand service such as Peacock.
Compare the specific show, event, channel, or local broadcast you need rather than choosing by brand reputation alone. Rights and lineups change.
Is Peacock worth it?
Peacock is worth paying for if you regularly watch NBC or Bravo, want a particular Peacock Original, need access to a specific Peacock sports event, or want Universal-related movies alongside TV and live programming.
Premium is the sensible starting point for most viewers who want the complete Peacock experience and can tolerate ads. Premium Plus is mainly justified by select downloads, local NBC access where available, and fewer ads during on-demand viewing. Select is worthwhile only when its narrower NBC-and-Bravo-oriented library matches what you actually watch.
Peacock is less compelling if you want a single permanent catalog, comprehensive live sports coverage, or a full cable replacement. Check the current plan, device compatibility, and the exact title or event before subscribing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
