There is a good chance you have thought about signing up for a Peacock subscription to watch Sunday Night Football, the Olympics, WWE, or other sporting events but haven't decided to pull the trigger on one of the best streaming services. But don't worry, as it's never too late to sign up for a membership that gives you access to the best Peacock shows, streaming-exclusive movies, and so much more.
Below is a quick breakdown of everything you'd care to know about the service, including the answer to “How much does Peacock cost?” and “Hey, can I watch live sports?,” and “Wait, there are shows besides The Office?,” and "How can I watch the new SNL hosts and musical guests?" Let’s talk it out…
The Peacock Subscription Plans And Price
There are currently two options when it comes to a subscription - Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus. There was a Peacock Free option up until early February 2023, at which point Peacock stopped offering the tier to new customers in favor of focusing on increasing and improving its offerings. Here's how the pricing shakes out as of December 2024.
Peacock Premium
Peacock Premium costs $7.99 per month (or $79.99 per year) and gives you access to everything the streaming service has to offer. This includes all those Peacock originals and the massive library of great movies and shows. You can also watch NBC hit series the day after they air on traditional TV. It should be noted that there are ads during a lot of the shows but not as bad as the recently discontinued free model.
Peacock Premium Plus
And then there is Peacock Premium Plus, which costs $13.99 per month (or $139.99 per year) and gives you everything the Premium model offers but without all the ads. You will still have to deal with ads when you’re watching live sports, the new live feed of select NBC affiliates, and select titles (due to streaming rights), but this is rarely a problem in my experience. You can also download certain movies and shows for offline viewing on your mobile device.
The Peacock Streaming Library Has Tons Of Beloved TV Shows
With Peacock and NBC being under the same corporate umbrella, it should be no surprise that the popular streaming service gives you access to some of the network’s most popular and beloved shows of yesterday and today. From hilarious comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation to Dick Wolf’s various crime procedurals set in the One Chicago and Law & Order franchises, there’s just so much to watch.
And all those new NBC shows? Well, depending on your subscription plan, you can watch those as they air or the following day, which is great for fans of FBI: International, Saturday Night Live, and The Voice who have busy schedules during primetime.
There Is Also A Massive Collection Of Movies
Like any streaming service, Peacock comes loaded with an assortment of movies from just about every genre and film era imaginable. In the past, Peacock has offered subscribers the entire Harry Potter franchise and the Fast & Furious movies. And even though titles will come and go throughout the course of the year, there is always something new (or old) being added for fans of all genres.
In addition to grouping together beloved franchises, Peacock also has actor collections that will bring you to a hub where you’ll find every Will Smith, Ryan Reynolds, and Jennifer Aniston movie currently available on the platform, which is honestly something we should see more of in today’s streaming world.
Peacock Has Great Original TV Shows, Movies And Documentaries
One of the biggest drawing points for the various streaming services are their unique library or original shows, movies, and documentaries, and Peacock has a massive collection of all three of those. Whether it’s engaging crime shows like Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist or Poker Face, movies like John Woo’s The Killer, or a massive collection of true crime documentaries (that’s growing all the time), there’s plenty to watch with your subscription each month.
Peacock Is Home To The WWE Network
In January 2021, it was announced that the WWE Network was coming to Peacock, effectively giving every Peacock subscriber access to thousands of hours of wrestling content including classic shows and live events each month. And while the service is a mixed bag, the fact that it doesn’t cost you anything besides a Peacock Premium subscription more than makes up for it.
So if you want to relive the craziest moments from the Royal Rumble or check out some of the most electrifying WrestleMania main event matches, WWE Network on Peacock is the way to go. Plus, there are a ton of great wrestling documentaries to sink your teeth into as well. And since the platform is the exclusive home (at least in the states) of the wrestling promotion, it's the only place you can watch any of the upcoming WWE events.
But be warned, as a ton of WWE content is going to disappear from Peacock very soon, now that the company’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, is moving to Netflix in January 2025. Because of that deal, Peacock’s massive collection of episodes dating back to the Raw debut in 1993 will be leaving the service. The same can be said about the massive catalog of NXT episodes, as they too will be pulled from Peacock in the near future.
How To Watch NFL And Other Sports On Peacock
One of the biggest draws for any streaming service these days is live sports, and Peacock is one of the best in this regard. Whether you want to watch the NFL’s weekly Sunday Night Football matchups (or the playoffs, as well as the Super Bowl every few years), the Summer and Winter Olympics, Sunday morning MLB action, or various other sporting events from around the world, Peacock has you covered.
Both the Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus subscription plans give you access to hours upon hours of live sports throughout the year. And while there are commercials during live sporting events with both plans, the more expensive option will cut those out during replays or clip shows.
If you want to see what Peacock has to offer, simply check out the Sports tab in the app or browser.
How To Watch Live News And TV Channels On Peacock
Peacock also boats a robust collection of 24/7 streaming channels for its subscribers, no matter the plan you choose. However, while everyone has access to the likes of NBC News Now, NBC Sports, and channels dedicated to specific shows, you will need a Premium Plus account to watch your local NBC affiliate and other live channels.
If you want to see everything your Peacock subscription has to offer in the form of live news and channels, simply click on the Channels tab in the Peacock app or browser.
Peacock Is Available On Most Modern Streaming Devices
Like most streaming services, you can watch Peacock on several different devices. This includes all the major web browsers, Android and iOS phones and tablets, popular streaming boxes, and all modern PlayStation and XBOX consoles. The platform is also compatible with various smart TVs.
I have personally tested Peacock on my Samsung and LG smart TVs, PlayStation 5, Roku, Tivo Stream, Chrome and Safari browsers, and iPhone 12, and there aren’t any issues to report. If only this were the case for other streaming services out there.
Check out the full list of Peacock compatible devices.
How To Cancel Peacock
For one reason or another, some folks will want to cancel their Peacock subscription, and doing so is a fairly easy task. If you subscribe to Peacock directly, follow these steps
- Go to the Peacock website on your browser or mobile device
- Click on your account settings
- Go to the Plans & Payments section
- Select “Cancel Plan”
You will still have access to your Peacock subscription until the end of your current billing cycle. And please note, if you subscribe through a third-party service like Roku, Apple TV+, or Amazon, you will need to cancel your subscription from the point of purchase.
Hopefully, all of this helps make sense of Peacock, its various subscription options, and everything that comes along with them. If you end up subscribing to the service, take a look at the 2024 TV schedule as well as the 2025 TV schedule to keep track of all the new and returning shows coming to Peacock in the very near future.
