Advanced Television

NBCU’s D2C is Peacock

September 17, 2019

NBC Universal’s planned streaming service has been given a name — Peacock – and a slate of new shows have been scheduled.

The name is a reference to the NBC network’s famous logo. The service, scheduled for launch April 2020, will be anchored by more than 15,000 hours of content from the entertainment conglomerate’s TV and movie catalogue.

NBCU has already taken The Office from Netflix in 2021, and now says Peacock will also be the exclusive streaming home for Parks and Recreation, which currently streams on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.

The new service also has deals for originals with ties to existing NBCU brands, including a reboot of Battlestar Galactica, revivals of Saved by the Bell and Punky Brewster, and a new comedy from The Good Place creator Mike Schur starring The Office’s Ed Helms. There will also be dozens of films from the Universal library, new animated shows from DreamWorks Animation, and reruns of Downton Abbey.

NBCU has previously said the service will be ad-supported, with anyone who subscribes to a cable package (or a virtual cable service such as YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV) possibly being able to watch for free. There will also be a stand-alone subscription, although it is not yet clear if there will be an ad-free tier. Details on pricing and distribution will be announced closer to launch.

“The name Peacock pays homage to the quality content that audiences have come to expect from NBCUniversal – whether it’s culture-defining dramas from innovative creators like Sam Esmail, laugh-out-loud comedies from legends like Lorne Michaels and Mike Schur, blockbusters from Universal Pictures, or buzzy unscripted programming from the people who do it best at Bravo and E!,” remarked Bonnie Hammer, Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and Digital Enterprises. “Peacock will be the go-to place for both the timely and timeless – from can’t-miss Olympic moments and the 2020 election, to classic fan favorites like The Office.”

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