You can stream the New Year's Eve ball drop on Peacock through NBC's live coverage
Peacock carries NBC's New Year's Eve broadcast, which includes the Times Square ball drop and related programming. The stream is available to all Peacock subscribers — both free and paid tiers — though the free tier may have ads. You need a Peacock account, an internet connection, and access to the app or website on a device that supports it.
The ball drop itself happens at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31st. NBC's coverage typically begins earlier in the evening and runs through the countdown. Peacock's stream mirrors what airs on the NBC television channel, so the timing and content are the same whether you watch on TV or through the app.
Key Takeaways
- Peacock streams NBC's New Year's Eve coverage, including the Times Square ball drop, to both free and paid subscribers.
- The ball drop occurs at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31st, and NBC's full coverage typically starts several hours earlier.
- You can watch on the Peacock app, website, or through a connected device like a Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or Chromecast.
- Free Peacock accounts include ads during the stream; paid Peacock Premium removes most ads.
Setting up Peacock to watch on your device
If you do not yet have a Peacock account, go to peacocktv.com and select "Sign Up." You can create an account using an email address or by signing in with your Google, Apple, or Comcast account. The free tier requires no payment; the paid Premium tier costs a monthly fee.
Once your account is active, read the Peacock app to your device. Peacock works on phones and tablets (iOS and Android), computers (through the website), and streaming devices including Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Samsung Smart TVs. Open the app, sign in with your account credentials, and search for "New Year's Eve" or "ball drop" to find NBC's coverage when it becomes available closer to December 31st.
Finding the ball drop coverage in the Peacock app
As December 31st approaches, NBC's New Year's Eve programming will appear in the Peacock app's main feed and search results. You can also navigate to the "Live" section of the app, where Peacock displays live events and broadcasts. NBC's coverage will be listed there on the day of the event.
If you have trouble locating the stream, use the search bar at the top of the app and type "NBC New Year's Eve" or "Times Square ball drop." Peacock will show you the available broadcast options. Select the one that matches the time you want to watch — NBC typically offers multiple time slots and replays throughout the evening.
Internet speed and streaming quality
Peacock recommends at least 8 Mbps of read speed for HD streaming and 25 Mbps for 4K streaming. You can check your internet speed using a free tool like speedtest.net. If your connection is slower, the stream may buffer or drop to lower quality automatically.
If you experience buffering, try closing other apps or browser tabs that use your internet, moving closer to your Wi-Fi router, or restarting your device. Peacock also allows you to manually adjust video quality in the app settings if you want to reduce data use or improve stability on a slower connection.
Watching on multiple devices at once
Peacock allows simultaneous streams depending on your subscription tier. Free and Premium accounts can stream on two devices at the same time. Premium Plus accounts allow up to four simultaneous streams. If you exceed your limit, you will see an error message asking you to stop playback on another device.
This means you can watch the ball drop on your TV while someone else in your household watches on a phone or tablet, as long as you stay within your account's stream limit. If you need more simultaneous streams, you can upgrade to Premium Plus or create a separate Peacock account.
What to do if the stream is not working
If Peacock is not loading or the stream keeps stopping, first check that you have a stable internet connection. Restart the Peacock app by closing it completely and reopening it. If that does not work, restart your device or router.
Clear the app's cache by going to your device's settings, finding Peacock in your apps list, and selecting "Clear Cache" (the exact steps vary by device type). If you are still having trouble, sign out of your Peacock account, sign back in, and try the stream again. For ongoing issues, contact Peacock support through the app's Help section or visit peacocktv.com/help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay for Peacock to watch the ball drop?
No. The free Peacock tier includes NBC's New Year's Eve coverage and the ball drop broadcast. Free accounts include ads during the stream. If you want to remove most ads, you can upgrade to Peacock Premium, which costs a monthly fee.
Can I watch the ball drop on Peacock if I do not have cable?
Yes. Peacock is a standalone streaming service that does not require a cable subscription. You only need a Peacock account and an internet connection. The free tier is sufficient to watch NBC's New Year's Eve coverage.
What time does the ball drop happen?
The Times Square ball drop occurs at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31st. If you are in a different time zone, adjust accordingly — that is 10:59 p.m. Central, 9:59 p.m. Mountain, and 8:59 p.m. Pacific. NBC's coverage typically begins several hours before the countdown.
Can I rewatch the ball drop after it happens?
Yes. Peacock usually makes NBC's New Year's Eve coverage available on demand after the live broadcast ends. You can search for the program in the app and select the replay option. Availability may vary, so check the app on January 1st to confirm the replay is posted.
Will the stream work on my smart TV?
Peacock works on most modern smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, and Vizio models, as well as devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and Chromecast. read the Peacock app from your TV's app store, sign in, and search for the New Year's Eve coverage. If your TV is older or does not have Peacock built in, you can connect a streaming device to watch.