What Peacock Is and Who Owns It

Peacock is a streaming service owned and operated by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast. It streams television shows, movies, sports, and news — mostly content produced by NBC, MSNBC, Bravo, E!, and other NBCUniversal networks, plus licensed content from other studios. You watch on a web browser, phone, tablet, or connected TV device.

Peacock is not a free service in the way some people assume. It has a free tier with ads, a paid tier with ads, and a paid tier without ads. The free tier exists to let you try the service, but most current shows and movies live behind the paid tiers.

Key Takeaways

  • Peacock offers three tiers: free with ads (limited library), Premium with ads ($5.99 per month), and Premium Plus without ads ($11.99 per month), though prices vary by region and change over time.
  • The free tier includes some NBC shows, sports highlights, and older content, but new episodes of current shows and most movies require a paid subscription.
  • You can watch on any device with a web browser or the Peacock app, and you can stream on multiple devices at once depending on your tier.
  • Peacock is included at no extra cost if you have a Comcast Xfinity internet or TV subscription, or if you have certain other services like YouTube TV or Hulu bundles.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings — there is no contract or early termination fee.

The Three Subscription Tiers and What Each Includes

The free tier includes a rotating selection of older episodes, some sports highlights, and a small number of movies. You cannot watch current episodes of shows like "The Office" or "Parks and Recreation" on the free tier — those require a paid subscription. The free tier has ads and you cannot skip them.

Premium costs $5.99 per month (though this price varies by region and Peacock has raised it in the past). It includes the full library of current and past shows, most movies, live sports, and news. It has ads, and you cannot skip them. You can stream on two devices at the same time.

Premium Plus costs $11.99 per month and includes everything in Premium, but without ads. You can stream on four devices at the same time. Some live sports events still have ads even on Premium Plus because the broadcast rights require them.

Peacock occasionally runs promotional pricing — for example, $1.99 per month for the first few months, or a discount for annual payment instead of monthly. These offers change and are not always available to all users.

How to Sign Up and What Information You Need

To create a Peacock account, go to peacocktv.com or read the Peacock app on your device. You will need an email address and a password. If you choose a paid tier, you will need a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or in some cases a PayPal account.

Peacock will ask for your zip code during signup. This is used to determine which live sports and local news content you can watch, since some broadcasts are restricted by region.

If you have a Comcast Xfinity TV or internet subscription, you can sign in with your Xfinity credentials instead of creating a new account. Peacock Premium is included at no extra cost with most Xfinity packages. Check your Xfinity bill or log into your Xfinity account online to see whether Peacock is already included.

When Your Subscription Renews and How to Cancel

Your subscription renews automatically on the same day each month (or year, if you paid annually). Peacock will charge your payment method on that date. You will receive a reminder email a few days before the charge, though the exact timing varies.

To cancel, log into your Peacock account, go to Account Settings, and select the option to manage your subscription. You can cancel when ready — your access will end on the date your current billing period ends, and you will not be charged again. There is no penalty for canceling early, and you can restart your subscription at any time.

If you signed up through a bundle (like YouTube TV or Hulu), you may need to cancel through that service instead of through Peacock directly. Check your bill from the service you pay to see where to make the change.

Devices You Can Watch On and Simultaneous Streams

You can watch Peacock on a web browser on any computer, on the Peacock app for iPhone and iPad, on Android phones and tablets, on Amazon Fire devices, on Roku, on Apple TV, on Google TV, on Samsung Smart TVs, and on gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. The app is free to read — you only pay for the subscription itself.

The number of devices you can stream on at the same time depends on your tier. The free tier allows one stream at a time. Premium allows two simultaneous streams. Premium Plus allows four simultaneous streams. This means if you have Premium, you and one other person can watch different shows at the same time, but a third person cannot start a stream until one of you stops.

You can read some shows and movies to watch offline on the Peacock app, though not all content is available for read. Downloaded content expires after a set period (usually 30 days).

What Happens If Peacock Is Included With Another Service

If you have a Comcast Xfinity TV or internet subscription, Peacock Premium is usually included. You do not pay extra — it is part of your Xfinity bill. Log in with your Xfinity username and password to access it.

Some bundles of other streaming services include Peacock. For example, certain Hulu bundles include Peacock Premium at no extra cost. YouTube TV includes Peacock Premium. If you subscribe to one of these services, check your account or your bill to see whether Peacock is already included before you pay for a separate Peacock subscription.

If Peacock is included with your service, you still cannot upgrade to Premium Plus without paying extra. You get the tier that comes with your bundle.

Common Reasons Your Peacock Account Might Not Work

If you cannot log in, first check that you are using the correct email address and password. If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it. Peacock will send a reset link to your email.

If you see a message that your subscription has expired or been canceled, your payment method may have failed. Log into your account settings and update your payment information. Peacock will attempt to charge again, usually within a few days.

If you see a message that content is not available in your region, this is because of broadcast rights restrictions. Some live sports and news content is only available to viewers in certain areas. You cannot change this by using a VPN or other tool — Peacock detects these and will block the stream.

If the app crashes or will not load, try closing it completely and reopening it. If that does not work, uninstall and reinstall the app. Make sure your device has the latest software update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Peacock password with family members in another house?

Technically yes, but Peacock's terms of service say the account is for personal use only. If you share your password, you are using up your simultaneous stream limit — if someone else is watching on your account, you cannot watch at the same time. For a household that wants multiple people to watch together, Premium Plus (four simultaneous streams) is the best option.

Does Peacock have a free trial?

Peacock does not currently offer a free trial period for paid tiers. However, the free tier with ads is available to everyone, so you can explore the service and see what content interests you before paying. Peacock occasionally runs promotional offers like $1.99 per month for the first few months, but these are not may provide.

What if I have a Comcast bundle but Peacock is not showing up in my account?

Log into your Xfinity account online and check your current services. Peacock Premium is included with most Xfinity TV and internet packages, but not all. If it is listed as included, go to peacocktv.com and sign in with your Xfinity credentials. If Peacock is not listed in your Xfinity account, contact Comcast to confirm whether it is part of your plan.

Can I use Peacock outside the United States?

Peacock is only available in the United States. If you try to access it from outside the US, you will see a message that the service is not available in your location. Some content is also restricted to US viewers even if you are using a US account.

What if I want to watch a show but it says it is only on Premium Plus?

Some newer or exclusive content is only available to Premium Plus subscribers (the ad-free tier). If you have Premium (with ads), you cannot watch that content. You would need to upgrade to Premium Plus, or wait to see if the content becomes available on the free or Premium tier later.