NBCUniversal is getting in on the streaming game. Earlier this fall, the company announced the name of its upcoming streamer: Peacock. The service will launch next year with an impressive lineup of both new and classic content.
Curious about Peacock and what it has to offer? Here’s a run-down of everything you need to know about NBC’s new streamer.
Where Did Its Name Come From?
In September, NBC announced that its new streaming service would be named Peacock, an homage to the network’s colorful emblem. The company also released the logo for the new streaming service, seen here.
“For us, it’s the perfect nod to the legacy without being too on the nose,” Bonnie Hammer, chairwoman of the upcoming streaming service, told The New York Times. “From my point of view, it screams that we are proud and we are bold.”
It Will Feature A Slew Of Classic NBC Shows
The new service will come stocked with 15,000 hours of content, including many past shows from the NBC catalog.
Users will be able to stream complete seasons of old favorites, like “SNL,” “Frasier,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Cheers,” “30 Rock,” “Will & Grace” and “Parenthood.”
It Will Be The Exclusive Home To ‘Parks and Recreation’
If you can’t get enough “Parks and Rec,” you may want to add Peacock to your list of streaming services. Starting next fall, it will be the exclusive streaming home for the Amy Poehler-starring sitcom, which currently streams on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
And Yes, It Will Have ‘The Office’ Too
Netflix currently serves as the streaming home to the beloved NBC comedy, “The Office,” but it won’t for much longer. In June, NBCUniversal paid a reported $500 million to regain the rights to the critically acclaimed show. It will become available to watch on Peacock starting on Jan. 1, 2021.
Other NBCU Shows Will Also Be Available
In addition to featuring a slew of former NBC shows, Peacock’s library will also include some series from other NBCU properties, such as USA and Bravo. Among these: “Top Chef,” “Chrisley Knows Best,” “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Psych” and “Monk.”
The streaming service will also house several shows that aired on various networks but were produced by NBCU companies, such as “House,” “Downton Abbey” and “Bates Motel.”
The Service Will Feature Several Original Series
Like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and the other streamers that are about to launch, Peacock will also offer several original TV shows in its library. About a dozen new series are already in the works, most of which incorporate some elements of past NBC properties.
These originals fall into three main areas: comedies, dramas and unscripted shows, which are broken down into more detail below.
Peacock Will Debut A New Comedy Starring Ed Helms
Peacock has a number of notable original comedies in the works — among them the latest series from “The Good Place” creator, Mike Schur, who also produced “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office.”
Titled “Rutherford Falls,” the new comedy takes place in a small town in upstate New York that descends into chaos after local legend and namesake, Nathan Rutherford, opposes the moving of a historical statue. Ed Helms will star in the series, while also serving as co-creator alongside Schur and “Superstore” writer Sierra Teller Ornelas.
A ‘Saved By The Bell’ Reboot Is Also In The Works
Peacock is officially bringing Bayside High back into business. After years of rumors, a new “Saved By the Bell” series is on its way, thanks to the NBC streamer. The reboot will take place in a world where Zack Morris (played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the original series) is now governor of California and facing political trouble for closing too many low-income schools. In an attempt to fix the issue, he sends the affected students to some of the highest-performing schools in the state, including Bayside. The influx of new students throws the overprivileged school into chaos.
Original stars Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez will produce and star in the remake, created by “30 Rock” writer and “Great News” creator Tracey Wigfield. As of now, it’s unclear whether Gosselaar or any other cast members will join the series.
Other Star-Studded Comedy Series Are Underway
Also among the other original comedies underway at Peacock: a pilot order for “Straight Talk,” an “Odd Couples”-like series starring Jada Pinkett Smith from writer Kara Brown and director/executive producer Rashida Jones, and a pilot for a “Punky Brewster” revival.
Season three of NBC’s “A.P. Bio” will also stream exclusively on Peacock.
It May Eventually Be Home To A Reboot Of ‘The Office’
Though nothing official is in the works yet, Peacock is reportedly making it a goal to bring back “The Office.” Rumors of a potential reboot have been circulating for years, but it never seemed likely to happen — until now.
NBCU’s Bonnie Hammer told Deadline that “The Office” is at the top of her wish list when it comes to reboots, stating, “It is my hope that we can figure what that great reboot would be. We are having conversations.”
Hey, if Peacock can bring back “Saved by the Bell,” why not “The Office”?
There’ll Be Plenty Of Original Dramas Too
NBC may be best known for its comedies, but that doesn’t mean there will be a lack of drama on Peacock. The streamer will also be home to a TV adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel “Brave New World,” starring Demi Moore and Alden Ehrenreich; a show based on the podcast “Dr. Death,” starring Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin; a mystery series based on Karen M. McManus’s novel, “One of Us Is Lying;” and “Angelyne,” a limited series from Emmy Rossum.
A ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Reboot Will Debut On Peacock
The headliner of Peacock’s original dramas is the anticipated “Battlestar Galactica” reboot, led by “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail. Producer Chad Hamilton, who collaborated with Esmail on “Mr. Robot” and Amazon’s “Homecoming,” will again serve as executive producer. Further details on the plot and cast have not been announced.
Reality And Unscripted Series Will Be Part Of Its Library
Peacock won’t limit its original content to scripted shows. It also plans to offer some new unscripted programming, including a new “Saturday Night Live” docuseries titled “Who Wrote That,” which hails from “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels and explores the famous personalities in front of and behind the camera.
A spinoff of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives” franchise will also be available.
It Will Debut Two New Talk Shows
Speaking of unscripted content, Peacock will also feature two new talk shows. One is an original talk show series from Jimmy Fallon. The second is a weekly late-night show starring writer and comedian Amber Ruffin and executive produced by Seth Meyers.
Don’t Forget About The Movies
In addition to its huge selection of TV shows, Peacock will feature a vast offering of titles from NBC’s film-related companies, including Universal Pictures, Focus Features and Dreamworks Animation.
Movies like “E.T.,” “Bridesmaids,” “American Pie,” “Jaws,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Shrek” will be featured along with blockbuster franchises like “Fast & Furious,” “Despicable Me” and the Bourne series.
Expect Some Original Films As Well
Aside from streaming past films, Peacock will also debut some original movies from Universal Pictures, although specifics have not been revealed. Dreamworks Animation will also create new family-friendly movies for the streamer.
It Will Include Spanish-Language Programming
Peacock will offer more than 3,000 hours of premium programming from NBCU’s Spanish-language channel, Telemundo. It will feature popular titles from its library, such as “100 Dias Para Volver,” “Betty in NY,” “El Barón” and “Preso No. 1.”
It will also include an original dramedy, “Armas de Mujer,” a new series from the makers of “La Reina del Sur.”
There May Be More Revivals In The Future
As can be seen from its lineup, part of Peacock’s strategy for its original content is to reboot shows from the NBC library. “Saved By the Bell” and “Punky Brewster” are already in the works, and there’s ongoing talk about “The Office” — but that may just be the beginning.
According to Deadline, any NBCU-owned series that streams on Peacock could be a candidate for a revival, particularly those that draw high viewership.
Sports Won’t Be Left Out Of The Peacock Library
It seems Peacock will also offer news and sports content, along with its vast library of movies and TV shows. “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,'” Hammer said of the service in the press release for the streamer.
How Much Will It Cost?
Details on pricing and distribution for Peacock have yet to be confirmed. However, NBCU has stated that the service will be ad-supported and may possibly come free with certain cable packages or virtual cable services, like YouTube TV or Hulu. Non-cable subscribers will also be able to purchase the service for a fee.
When Will It Launch?
Peacock is set to roll out sometime in April 2020, although there’s still no exact launch date. The service will make its debut with more than 15,000 hours of content available to stream.
Peacock Will Figure Heavily Into The 2020 Olympics
Though the streamer will launch in April 2020, at least some of its originals won’t premiere until later that summer. The company intends to use the 2020 Olympics, starting in late July, as a massive launching pad for Peacock and its content.
An extensive marketing push for the service will take place during the international event, with original series set to debut after the Games.
It Will Join A Slew Of Other New Streaming Services
Peacock will mark only one of the latest arrivals in the increasingly crowded landscape of streaming services. Several other established media brands, including Disney, WarnerMedia and Comcast, are launching their own services next year, as they look to remain competitive in the digital era.
Should You Subscribe?
As you’ve probably gathered by now, Peacock will rely heavily on NBC’s back catalog of movies and TV shows for content. So if you favor platforms like HBO or Netflix over broadcast TV, this probably isn’t the right service for you.
However, if you’re a regular binge-watcher of the network’s legacy series, like “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation,” or simply can’t get enough of sitcom revivals, then you may want to consider subscribing to the streamer when it launches next year.
