peacocktv.com
The television industry has had a very hard time adapting to the new media landscape, where computers and the internet have become the new dominant way of consuming content. Only a handful of cable networks have been able to survive this transformation, and many have had to make drastic changes in order to keep up with their rivals.
Some companies, like Netflix, were eager to position themselves at the forefront of the streaming revolution. They wasted no time making the switch from providing DVD rentals through the postal service to propping themselves up as the company whose name is synonymous with streaming itself. Whether you're planning to watch Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, people often just use "Netflix" as the convenient shorthand for streaming TV or movies - best reflected in the salacious phrase "Netflix and chill."
Traditional cable networks are adapting to the times by embedding live and on-demand TV streaming right onto their websites. HBO, for example, has three separate platforms on which you can stream their content: HBO Max, HBO Now, and HBO Go.
Disney finally joined the streaming party just last year when they introduced their record-breaking streaming platform, Disney Plus. Better late than never, right? NBC, however, has recently decided to throw its hat into the ring with their premium streaming service, Peacock. Peacock just launched earlier this month on July 15th (2020).
If there's one traditional TV network that deserves its own streaming platform, it's probably NBC. They've been pumping out quality television for nearly a 100 years now and their shows are often some of my favourites. I rarely get the urge to watch any of their live shows, but I do like to catch up on them afterwards.
While Netflix and Hulu are both great sources of content, Peacock offers something that those services can't - a massive amount of syndicated programming. This means that, even after The Office moves to Peacock starting in 2021, Netflix will still have a lot of competition.
Peacock provides a wide range of content, including original programs, syndicated shows, classic movies and The Office. They also offer live sports events and a daily dose of news. This content looks appealing, doesn't it?
The content that Peacock provides is immensely important, but it's not everything. Before you decide whether or not it's worth your money to sign up for Peacock, you need to take a look at the service and determine its strengths and failings. You'll also want to know how much it will cost you each month. So without further ado, I give you the latest premium streaming service on the market, Peacock.
Design
It?s really intuitive and makes using the service a breeze.
The first thing that stood out to me about Peacock was its sleek, modern, clean design. It is sleek and it is pretty intuitive- I love the way that Peacock looks. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is the best-looking premium streaming service out there at the moment. It looks, to be frank, something like I expected Apple TV to look - with its very clean lines and app-like navigation style (browse the sections of the service by clicking one of 9 tabs at the top of the page: Channels, Browse, Featured, TV Shows, Movies, Kids, News, Sports, or Latino). It is really intuitive and makes using the service a breeze.
There are some usability concerns that I have with Peacock. For one, there is no "skip" or "next episode" button, which can make binge watching your favorite comfort shows more inconvenient than it should be. Additionally, the episode list is not conveniently accessible while you are watching content, and you have to go through the trouble of returning to it every time you want to jump ahead in a series.
I think Peacock looks great, but it has some downfalls. For one, it can be difficult to use because of its visual layout.
Content and Features
Peacock makes up for its usability shortcomings in the quality (and quantity) of its content. Starting next year, Peacock will be the only streaming service where you'll be able to watch America's two favorite comedies: The Office and Parks and Rec. And it has every other NBC show you can think of.
Peacock definitely offers a lot of content, including movies, news articles, original Peacock shows and movies, and live sporting events. However, I think it's more important to be thinking about your streaming future than your immediate concerns right now. Most of the NBC shows that are on Peacock (and many of the movies) are available on other streaming services right now. So in the next year, I think Peacock is going to fan its feathers by not having many of those shows available anywhere else.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
There are several issues with this new app, which need to be worked out. The design is nice, but the functionality is not good. There is no way to mini-screenstream content so you can continue watching while you browse for something else. There are also many reviews on the Apple App Store that say the live streaming quality is not great.
I have a major complaint about the service. It is not currently available on Roku or Firestick, and it doesn't look like there are any plans in the works to make it available on either of these platforms. However, if you use a Vizio or LG smart TV, an Android TV, Xbox One, or Chromecast, you can fully enjoy the service.
Pricing and Plans
One thing that makes Peacock stand out is the fact that it advertises the ability to start streaming content for free with no credit card required. However, with this free version, there are limited amounts of content available. If you want Peacock Premium, you are looking at $4.99/month plus additional charges for ad-free streaming ($5 more Premium Plus).
Peacock does not offer monthly payments with their service. To the service's credit, though, they do not charge anything extra in order to take advantage of the live sports streaming.
Suggestions that I have for Peacock
Honestly, I think Peacock should do more usability and functionality tests in order to nail down what people want from their streaming service. I want to like Peacock, but I am hoping that in the months to come they can work out some of their shortcomings when it comes to usability.
Unfortunately, Peacock has yet to address its accessibility issue. This has been an ongoing problem that should have been resolved a long time ago, and it's very frustrating for customers like me who cannot stream the service on our Roku TVs.