Is Peacock Worth It in 2024? – TV Streaming Review

Live TV streaming services are growing in popularity, as traditional cable and satellite TV lose subscribers. By offering live content over the internet, streaming platforms mirror the offerings of cable or satellite TV providers at a much lower cost.

Peacock TV is a popular streaming service that offers a solid selection of content at an economical price. As one of the most affordable live streaming services, Peacock TV makes an especially great option for customers looking to save money on their monthly TV bill.

Peacock – Company Overview

Peacock TV is owned by NBCUniversal. Since its launch in 2020, the streaming platform has grown to over 20 million subscribers. It offers a combination of live channels and On-Demand programming for an exceptionally reasonable price.

Pros

• Extremely affordable plans
• Large classic TV show and movie selection
• Live daily news and sports

Cons

• Lacks original series and newer movies
• Offers few children’s programs
• Poor customer satisfaction

Highlights

• BBB rating: F
• Price: $5.99/month
• Year founded: 2020
• Areas served: United States (Nationwide)
• Contract Required: No
• Number of Channels: 50+
• Ad-Free: Optional

Why We Like Peacock

Though not as large as more well-known streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, or Hulu, Peacock TV offers significant value for the price. As an NBC service, their TV show catalog includes classic hits like The Office, and popular programs from their sister network, Bravo.

Over 50 live channels are available, ranging from NBC and its affiliate networks to live sports channels. Peacock TV appeals to sports fans. Its sports offering includes NFL Sunday Night Football, MLB on Sunday mornings, Premier League, golf, the US Open, WWE, and more.

Customers get next-day access to all new episodes of presently-airing NBC shows like Saturday Night Live. Access to NBC late night programming is available the night they air.

However, Peacock’s original content is lacking compared to competitors like Disney Plus, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, or Apple TV Plus and the streaming service is slower to offer newer movies than rivals like Netflix or Hulu. They also have a very limited selection of children’s programming.

The biggest downside to Peacock TV is the company’s history of low customer satisfaction. Their BBB rating is an F, and Trustpilot reviews average 1.2 (out of 5) stars. Frequent complaints among customers include buffering issues and hard-to-reach customer service.

Peacock TV Streaming – How It Works

Peacock TV Pricing Plans

Plans/Packages

Peacock TV has two paid plans: Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus. The higher tier does not have ads (with a few limitations for select Peacock channels, events, shows, and movies.) They also used to offer a free plan tier, but this was cut in January 2023.

There is a 7-day free trial period for new customers. After the free trial, customers are billed automatically.

Premium – $5.99/month

The Peacock Premium plan has over 80,000 hours of content, including over 50 live channels. It includes daily news, late night TV, and live sports, including Sunday Night Football, BigTen Basketball, Premier League, and golf. They also have a robust catalog of both new and classic TV shows and films, including current NBC & Bravo shows.

Premium Plus – $11.99/month

The Peacock Premium Plus plan has everything included in the Premium-tier plan, without ads. Viewers can also download and watch some programs offline and watch their live local NBC channel 24/7.

Channels/Categories

Both Peacock plans include over 50 live channels, including the following categories:

• News channels: ex. NBC News Now, Sky News, TODAY All Day
• Sports channels: ex. NBC Sports, Premier League TV, WWE Network, GolfPass
• Crime & Mystery channels: ex. Dateline 24/7, True Crime, Snapped, Classic TV Crime
• Hallmark channels: ex, Hallmark, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Family

The Peacock Premium Plus plan also includes access to your local NBC channel, where you can watch local news, weather, and programs live, 24/7.

How To Watch / Peacock App

To watch Peacock, you will need a high-speed internet connection and a compatible device, such as a phone, smart TV, computer, tablet, game console, or streaming device. Peacock works across a wide range of devices.

Peacock is supported on Google TV, Apple TV, Xumo, and Roku streaming sticks and devices. Compatible smart TVs include Amazon Fire TV, VIZIO SmartCast TV, Android, LG, Roku, and Samsung smart TVs.

Compatible gaming consoles include Playstation, Xbox, and Meta VR devices. Peacock also works with cable provider set-top boxes from Cox, Spectrum, and Infinity.

Your Peacock programs can also be streamed through your internet browser on your computer. You will need to log in to the Peacock website to access your content.

You can also watch Peacock on your mobile phone or tablet by downloading the app. The Peacock app can be downloaded for free on Google Play or the Apple App Store. You will need to log in with your Peacock account to start watching content on the go.

How To Sign Up

Signing up for Peacock is simple. First, visit the Get Started page on the Peacock website to select a plan. Once you choose which plan option you want, you will be prompted to create an account and enter your preferred payment method. From there, you can check out.

There is a 7-day free trial for both Peacock TV plans. After this ends, you will be automatically billed the full amount of your monthly subscription.

Once you sign up for Peacock TV, you will gain instant access to all live channels, along with their full catalog of TV shows and films. You can stream Peacock content immediately.

How To Cancel

Peacock is a contract-free streaming service, so there are no fees associated with canceling. You are free to cancel at any time.

To cancel Peacock TV, first log in to your account. Then, go to “Plans & Payments” and click on “Cancel Plan.” After you confirm that you wish to cancel, there will be an on-screen confirmation message. You will also receive a cancellation confirmation email, which can take a few hours to arrive.

After canceling your Peacock TV services, you will not be charged after the end of your monthly billing cycle. Peacock does not offer any refunds or credits for partial months of service.

If you signed up for Peacock through a third-party service like Apple, Google, or Roku, then you will need to cancel your Peacock TV service through the third-party service directly.

Customer Service Contact Info

Peacock TV has a slew of information available at the Help Center on their website. For quick answers and solutions to common problems, check out this page first.

If you need to contact Peacock customer service, you can use the Peacock Helper option available on the bottom left-hand corner of the website.

You can also use the Get in Touch page to send an email message or live chat with a customer service agent from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM ET.

Peacock can also be reached via direct message on their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.

Is Peacock a Smart Choice for TV Streaming?

Peacock TV is an extremely budget-friendly streaming service that holds its own against the competition. With low prices, a solid selection of classic and current NBC programs, and daily live news and sports, Peacock TV is perhaps the best streaming service for customers on a tight budget.

However, you get what you pay for with Peacock TV. For the price, their selection of content is a great value. But, compared to rivals like Netflix or Hulu, they are considerably lacking in original series, children’s content, and newer movies. If you have more money to spend, you may want to look into alternative streaming platforms, such as Sling TV or DIRECTV STREAM.

Before deciding on the right TV streaming service to match your viewing preferences and budget, be sure to check out our in-depth reviews of the best TV streaming companies.