NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock launches today on iOS and Apple TV

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Peacock from NBCUniversal
Because 2020 doesn't have enough streaming subscription services.
Photo: NBC Universal

NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock launched Wednesday, complete with iOS and Apple TV apps.

Peacock, which joins a plethora of similar streaming services, has been up and running for Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Flex cable customers since April. However, today it gets a wider U.S. release, with both paid and free tiers.

Peacock serves up a comprehensive library of classic NBC shows like 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, plus The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers. (The Office will arrive on the service in January 2021 once its current Netflix deal expires.) Peacock also showcases Universal Pictures movies such as Jurassic Park and the Jason Bourne saga.

The service also will offer live sports. This is something other streaming services, such as Apple TV+, have not gotten into. Peacock will feature upward of 175 exclusive Premier League soccer matches for the 2020-2021 season, cycling events like the Tour De France, and more.

In addition, there will be Peacock Originals including upcoming reboots of Battlestar Galactica and Saved by the Bell. (Check out a comprehensive list of Peacock programming.)

Sign up for Peacock today

As mentioned, Peacock offers three tiers. A free tier includes sample episodes of Peacock Originals, plus a reported 13,000 hours of content, featuring older shows and movies. Paid tiers cost $4.99 and $9.99 a month (with and without advertising), and offer 20,000 hours of material.

Is there room for yet another streaming subscription service? It’s too early to know for sure. Seemingly every network and major content provider offers its own subscription service at present. Apple TV+ continues to struggle to find a breakthrough hit, although crime drama Defending Jacob generated some buzz and Tom Hanks’ World War II movie Greyhound reportedly drew a huge audience.

Still, it’s an incredibly crowded market. While the likes of Netflix and Disney+ will likely remain unassailable, it’s going to become increasingly difficult for second-tier services to make a case that they deserve your money every month.

With that said, the NBCUniversal library is a formidable archive. It definitely looks like it’s worth checking out.

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