SmartStream

Peacock Drops Free Tier Making New Users Pay

Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 22, 2023

The Peacock streaming service run by Comcast subsidiary NBCUniversal has discontinued its free tier for new customers offering only Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus subscriptions. Free-tier access will no longer be an option for Comcast subscribers who have yet to sign up for Peacock.

Those who signed up for Peacock Free in the past or current premium-tier subscribers who want to downgrade their plan will still be able to watch for free. Peacock would rather give users the service for free than lose them.

The free tier is also available to those, like Cox internet customers, who previously signed up for the Premium tier for free. Comcast subscribers who sign up for Peacock will not get Peacock Free but can get Peacock Premium Plus for $5 instead of the usual $10 per month.

Peacock’s dropping their free plan comes when Sling TV and Roku Channel are adding to their free channels. Sling TV is adding 210 free channels that include A&E, Bravo, CNN, ESPN, TBS, TNT, and USA. Roku is adding 10 popular show channels, including Dateline 24/7, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the horror/thriller channel Screambox TV.

Nonetheless, Comcast reported having 20 million paid Peacock Premium subscribers at the end of 2022. This is a massive increase from 9 million subscribers in 2021. In the past, Peacock Free subscribers could sample an episode or two of a premium show. Now, you have to pick a plan even to see the app’s home page.

The free tier only includes some 10,000 hours of programming, which is expected to jump to 100,000 in 2023. An NBCUniversal spokesperson told Variety the shift away from Peacock Free to Peacock Premium “better reflects the streaming platform’s brand and the ‘unique’ experience it offers.”

Peacock Premium includes: original movies like Julia Roberts and George Clooney in Ticket to Paradise, Oscar nominee Tár, and M3gan; series like Poker Face, Nope, Dr. Death, Bel-Air, and Yellowstone; live sports Big Ten Football, the Women’s World Cup, and Premiere League; and classic NBC shows like The Office. Premium subscribers can also stream current season NBC TV shows The Voice, Saturday Night Live, and American Auto that were pulled from Hulu in the fall. Current programming is available the next day.

The upgrade may be more appealing with the current special deal where new users get 40% off the annual subscription. Peacock Premium’s ad-supported tier is $30 instead of $50.

COMMENTS
fati89's picture
Submitted by fati89 on June 18, 2023 - 2:48am

[foe](http://foo.bar)
[url=googl.com]Google[/url]
abc
https://www.google.com
[site->http://riseup.net]

lisa2323's picture
Submitted by lisa2323 on September 13, 2024 - 4:19am

It's a shame that Peacock dropped the free-to-air channels, especially since other services like Sling TV and Roku Channel are adding more free-to-air channels. But I guess that's the way things are with streaming right now. If you are looking for other entertainment options, you can check out some of the games https://playsafecasino.ca/software/igt/ at this great resource. Everything there is tested and reliable, which will allow you to win a fairly significant amount of money. This site offers a wide selection of games that you can learn more about. It's always nice to have alternatives, especially when the free options disappear!

smklosam's picture
Submitted by smklosam on October 3, 2024 - 2:40am

True 4K/HDR gaming offers an immersive experience that regular gaming simply can't match. The sharpness, clarity, and vibrant colors make every detail come to life, enhancing the overall gameplay. When comparing both, it’s clear that 4K/HDR delivers a more visually stunning and engaging experience, especially for high-quality titles. For those who enjoy gaming on the go, the apk on Android Fairplay app is a great way to stay connected and enjoy games with impressive graphics. Whether you're a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, the shift to 4K/HDR gaming is undeniably worth it!

X