Yes, Universal owns Peacock, a streaming service with movies, TV shows, and live sports

Peacock is the streaming service owned by NBCUniversal, the entertainment company behind Universal Pictures, NBC, and other media brands. The service launched in April 2020 and offers films, television programs, live sports, and original content. You can watch movies from Universal's film library, NBC shows both current and archived, and sports events like Premier League soccer and WWE wrestling.

Peacock operates on a tiered model: a free version with ads, a Premium tier with fewer ads, and a Premium Plus tier with no ads. The free tier gives you access to a limited catalog, while paid tiers unlock more content. The service is available on most devices including phones, tablets, smart TVs, computers, and streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV.

Key Takeaways

  • Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal and includes movies from Universal Pictures, shows from NBC, and live sports programming.
  • The service offers a free ad-supported tier, a Premium tier with reduced ads, and a Premium Plus tier with no ads.
  • You can watch current NBC shows, classic television series, Universal films, and live events like Premier League soccer and WWE.
  • Peacock is available on phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and most major streaming devices.

What content is actually on Peacock

Peacock's library includes current NBC television shows that air the same night they broadcast on television, plus older seasons of popular series. You'll find shows like "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," "30 Rock," and "Saturday Night Live" archives. The service also carries movies from Universal Pictures' catalog, ranging from recent releases to older films.

Sports content includes live Premier League soccer matches (English football), WWE wrestling events, and select NFL games on Thursday nights during football season. Peacock also produces original series and films made specifically for the platform, though the volume is smaller than competitors like Netflix or Disney+.

The free tier shows a smaller selection than paid tiers. If you want to watch a specific show or movie, check Peacock's search function to see which tier it requires before committing to a subscription.

How the free and paid tiers work

The free tier requires no payment and includes ads. You get access to a rotating selection of content, though not the full library. Some shows and movies are exclusive to paid tiers. The free version is useful for trying the service or watching specific free content, but you'll hit limitations quickly if you want to watch extensively.

The Premium tier costs $5.99 per month with ads or $11.99 per month without ads (prices vary by region and change periodically). This tier unlocks the full content library, including all NBC shows, Universal movies, and sports events. You can read some content to watch offline.

The Premium Plus tier costs $15.99 per month and removes all ads while keeping everything else from Premium. It also allows simultaneous streaming on up to four devices at once, whereas lower tiers limit you to fewer screens.

How Peacock compares to other streaming services

Peacock focuses heavily on NBC and Universal content, so if you watch a lot of network television or Universal films, it may overlap with what you already have. If you subscribe to cable or have a cable login, you may already have Peacock Premium included at no extra cost—many cable packages bundle it.

Unlike Netflix or Disney+, Peacock includes live sports and current-season TV shows that air the same night on NBC. This makes it useful if you want to catch up on network television without cable. However, its original content library is smaller than Netflix's or HBO Max's, so it works better as a secondary service than a primary one.

If you're comparing streaming services, consider what you actually watch: if it's mostly NBC shows and Universal movies, Peacock covers that. If you want a broader range of content, you may need multiple services.

How to watch Peacock on your devices

read the Peacock app from your device's app store (Apple App Store, Google Play Store, etc.) or visit peacock.com in a web browser. Sign up with an email address and choose your tier—free, Premium, or Premium Plus. If you have a cable subscription that includes Peacock, you can log in with your cable credentials instead.

Peacock works on iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Android tablets, Mac and Windows computers, Apple TV, Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and most other modern streaming devices. Check the Peacock website for the full list of compatible devices if you're unsure whether yours is supported.

Once you're logged in, search for a show or movie by title, browse by category, or check the "What's New" section to see recently added content. You can create a watchlist and set reminders for upcoming episodes.

What happens if you already have cable

Many cable and satellite providers include Peacock Premium as part of their package at no extra charge. Comcast Xfinity customers often get it included, as do some other major providers. Check your cable bill or log into your cable provider's website to see if Peacock is bundled in.

If Peacock is included with your cable plan, you log in using your cable account credentials rather than creating a separate Peacock account. This gives you access to the full Premium tier without paying extra. Even if your cable plan doesn't include it, you can still purchase a Peacock subscription separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Peacock without paying anything?

Yes, the free tier is available without payment and includes ads. You get access to a limited selection of content, including some NBC shows and movies. If you want the full library, you'll need to pay for Premium or Premium Plus.

Do I need a cable subscription to use Peacock?

No, you can purchase Peacock directly without cable. However, if you already have cable, check whether Peacock Premium is included with your plan—many providers bundle it at no extra cost.

Can I watch live sports on Peacock?

Yes, Peacock includes live Premier League soccer matches, WWE wrestling events, and select NFL games on Thursday nights during football season. Some live events may require the Premium tier or higher.

What's the difference between Premium and Premium Plus?

Premium ($11.99/month without ads) gives you the full library and offline downloads. Premium Plus ($15.99/month) adds the ability to stream on up to four devices at the same time and removes all ads.

Can I read shows to watch offline?

Yes, Premium and Premium Plus tiers allow you to read select content to your phone or tablet and watch it without an internet connection. The free tier does not include downloads.