Peacock Premium Plus still carries ads on most content
Peacock Premium Plus is the mid-tier subscription, priced between the free ad-supported tier and Peacock Premium (the ad-free option). Despite the name, Premium Plus does not remove ads — it straightforward reduces them compared to the free tier. Most shows, movies, and live sports on Premium Plus play ads during viewing.
The main difference between Premium Plus and the free tier is the number of ads per hour and access to more recent content. Premium Plus subscribers see roughly four to five minutes of ads per hour, while free users see eight to ten minutes. Neither tier is ad-free.
If you want to watch Peacock content without interruption, you need Peacock Premium (the highest tier), which removes ads from nearly all content except live sports and a small number of licensed shows.
Key Takeaways
- Peacock Premium Plus includes ads on the vast majority of shows, movies, and on-demand content.
- Live sports events on Premium Plus always include ads, even during play.
- A small number of licensed shows and movies may have ads on Premium Plus due to licensing agreements with studios.
- Only Peacock Premium (the highest-paid tier) removes ads from most content, though live sports and a few licensed titles still carry them.
- Premium Plus reduces ad load compared to the free tier but does not eliminate ads.
Which shows carry ads on Premium Plus
Nearly every show available on Peacock Premium Plus includes ads. This includes original Peacock series like The Traitors, Poker Face, Yellowstone, and The Office. Licensed shows from other networks — such as Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Meyers — also play ads on Premium Plus.
Movies on Premium Plus carry ads as well. Whether the film is a recent theatrical release or an older catalog title, you will see commercial breaks during playback on the Premium Plus tier.
The only content that may differ is live sports. While Premium Plus includes live sports events (such as Premier League soccer, WWE, and golf tournaments), these always include ads during the broadcast, even on the ad-free Premium tier. This is a standard restriction across most streaming services due to sports broadcasting agreements.
How many ads you will see on Premium Plus
Peacock Premium Plus shows approximately four to five minutes of ads per hour of content. This is significantly less than the free tier, which shows eight to ten minutes per hour. However, it is still a noticeable interruption compared to Premium, which has no ads on most titles.
Ad frequency can vary slightly depending on the type of content. Live broadcasts and sports events may have different ad patterns than on-demand shows and movies, since they follow the structure of the original broadcast schedule.
Licensed shows that may have ads even on Premium
A small number of shows on Peacock carry ads on all tiers, including Premium. These are typically licensed content where the studio or network retained the right to include advertising. Examples include some episodes of The Office and certain other licensed titles, though Peacock has been gradually moving these to ad-free viewing on Premium.
Before subscribing to Premium specifically to avoid ads, check the show you want to watch. Peacock's app and website display an ad icon next to titles that will include ads even on the Premium tier. This icon appears in the show's details page.
Live sports and news on Premium Plus
Live sports events on Peacock Premium Plus always include ads, regardless of tier. Premier League soccer matches, WWE programming, golf tournaments, and other live sports carry commercial breaks during the broadcast. This is standard across streaming services and is built into the rights agreements with sports leagues.
Live news and breaking news coverage also includes ads on Premium Plus. If you are watching a live event, expect ads to interrupt the broadcast, even if you have a paid subscription.
Comparing Premium Plus to Premium
The main reason to upgrade from Premium Plus to Premium is to remove ads from on-demand content. Premium costs more per month but eliminates ads from shows, movies, and most other content. The trade-off is that live sports and a handful of licensed titles still carry ads on Premium, just as they do on Premium Plus.
Premium Plus is useful if you want more content than the free tier offers but do not want to pay for ad-free viewing. You get access to the full Peacock library, the ability to read episodes to watch offline, and fewer ads than the free tier — just not zero ads.
How to check if a specific show has ads
Open the Peacock app or website and search for the show you want to watch. On the show's detail page, look for an ad icon or a note stating "Ads" or "Contains ads." This icon tells you whether that title includes ads on your current subscription tier.
If you see an ad icon on a Premium Plus show, upgrading to Premium will remove those ads (unless the show is one of the few licensed titles that carry ads on all tiers). You can also read the show description, which sometimes notes ad restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip ads on Peacock Premium Plus?
No. Peacock does not offer the ability to skip ads on any tier except Premium. On Premium Plus, you must watch the full ad break before the content resumes. This is different from some other streaming services that allow skipping after five seconds.
Does Peacock Premium Plus include offline downloads?
Yes. Premium Plus allows you to read episodes and movies to watch offline on the Peacock app. The ads are still present when you watch downloaded content, since the ads are part of the file itself.
Are there any shows on Premium Plus with zero ads?
No. Every show on Premium Plus includes ads. If you want ad-free viewing, you must upgrade to Peacock Premium. Even then, live sports and a small number of licensed titles will still include ads.
Do I pay extra to remove ads from Premium Plus?
Yes. Removing ads requires upgrading to Peacock Premium, which is a separate, higher-priced subscription tier. There is no add-on or upgrade option within Premium Plus itself.
What about Peacock's free tier — does it have the same shows with ads?
The free tier has a smaller library than Premium Plus, but the shows that are available on both tiers include ads on both. The free tier straightforward shows more ads per hour (eight to ten minutes) compared to Premium Plus (four to five minutes).