by Reade Fenner ‘22

While the coronavirus pandemic forces everyone to remain trapped and bored in their homes, streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have all come in handy to provide the world with some form of entertainment. Just when everyone thought the limit for streaming services had been reached with the arrival of Disney+, NBCUniversal, a Comcast-owned media company combining Universal Studios and NBC, created yet another streaming service. Peacock launched on July 15, and, armed with beloved shows such as “The Office” and “Modern Family,” acquired over 33 million users by 2021. 

The main appeal of Peacock is that it offers some content for free with ads, which sets it apart from most other streaming services, as few provide a similar option. Without paying a cent, users can access hours of content, including many popular movies such as “Mamma Mia,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “The Breakfast Club.” However, this option only includes the first couple seasons of many TV shows such as “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” meaning that, to watch them in their entirety, you must upgrade to the Premium subscription. The Premium subscription costs $5 a month and still includes ads that can only be eliminated by purchasing a Premium Plus subscription, which is available for $10 a month. However, it’s hard to imagine your hatred for commercials equating a $5 monthly increase. 

Also included in both the Premium and Premium Plus subscriptions is extra content for Peacock’s main attraction: “The Office.” Packed with extended cuts of episodes, playlists sorted by character or story arc, bloopers, and behind the scenes content such as set tours and table reads, anyone looking to subscribe to Peacock purely to feed their addiction to “The Office” will be indulged. 

Aside from its hours of great content and free option, Peacock offers subtle features that make entertainment selection, a viewer’s most tedious trial, far easier. Available with each movie or TV show is a Rotten Tomatoes percentage review. By providing users with reviews from a reputable source, Peacock provides easy access to information about the quality of a movie or TV show, an option many other streaming services don’t present.

Similar to most streaming services, Peacock releases original content in addition to its supply of popular productions. With a “Saved By the Bell” reboot and renewals of formerly cancelled NBC comedy “A.P. Bio,” and BBC One’s British mystery series “The Capture,” it seems that Peacock’s originals are not so much “original” as refurbished. Compared to the impressive new content presented by Netflix and Hulu, Peacock’s attempts at “fresh” shows appear pathetic. 

Along with its many TV shows and movies, Peacock supplies viewers with a variety of live channels, including NBC News, SNL Vault, and NBC Sports. Although the appeal of streaming services is typically that they allow users to choose their own content, Peacock’s live channels offer an option to let the channel make your decision if you’re sick of spending hours making your entertainment selection. 

Peacock brings a few unique qualities to the realm of streaming services, but it does not have the allure to function as a standalone service. It does not provide substantial original content to preserve a viewer’s interest and money, nor does it seem worth it to pay for the Premium or Premium Plus version unless you are a massive fan of “The Office,” which appears to be Peacock’s fundamental enticement. Peacock simply cannot compete with the larger services that already dominate the industry. It’s difficult to imagine a viewer choosing to spend their monthly entertainment budget on Peacock as opposed to Netflix or Hulu.