NBCUniversal announces Peacock streaming service: Here's how it competes against Netflix, Disney Plus, others

Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal on Thursday gave specifics on its planned Peacock video streaming service, which will do battle with industry leader Netflix Inc and others in the highly competitive field. Here is what to expect.

Peacock

Cost: Peacock Free will be free for all US customers and will include ads. Peacock Premium customers can upgrade to ad-free version for $5 per month, while all other customers can upgrade for $9.99 per month. Bundles: Peacock Premium will be bundled in with no extra cost for Comcast and Cox subscribers, and will cost $4.99 per month for non-bundled customers. [caption id=“attachment_7918731” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Image: Reuters[/caption] Original programming: Dramas including Dr. Death and a reboot of Battlestar Galactica. A stand-up comedy special, and interview series Hart to Heart from comedian Kevin Hart. Original films and animated series to be developed from Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. TV library: The Office (starting in 2021); Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Frasier, Saturday Night Live, and Cheers. Movie library: Bridesmaids, Brokeback Mountain, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Breakfast Club. Exclusive streaming rights to Fast and Furious 9 and Jurassic World 3. Availability: April 15 for Comcast customers, launches nationwide on July 15

Netflix

Cost: Plans ranging from $9.99 per month to $19.99 per month. Bundles: Available as part of Comcast’s X finity package in the United States. Discounts: Mobile plan in India for about $3.50 per month Original programming: TV series and films such as House of Cards, Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why, Marriage Story, The Irishman. Television library: Seinfeld (starting in 2021), The Office (through 2020), Breaking Bad. Movie library: City of God, The Matrix, Trainspotting, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Availability: Globally except in China, North Korea, Crimea, and Syria.

Disney+

Cost: $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. Bundles: $13 per month bundle including Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu. Original programming: The Mandalorian, Loki, Lady and the Tramp. Television library: High School Musical, Duck Tales, Star Wars Rebels, The Simpsons. Movie library: Bambi, Frozen, The Sound of Music, Avatar. Launched: November 2019

Apple TV+

Cost: $4.99 per month. Discounts: Free one-year subscription with purchase of new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or Apple TV device. Subscription in India for 99 rupees ($1.40) per month. Original programming: The Morning Show, Dickinson, For All Mankind, Little Voice. No library beyond original programming. Launched: November 2019

HBO Max

Cost: $14.99 per month Discounts: Free at launch to HBO subscribers on AT&T distribution platforms and HBO Now direct-billed customers. Original programming: Grease: Rydell High musical spinoff series; four Adventure Time series; a Gossip Girl reboot; Green Lantern. Upcoming HBO series The Outsider and Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. Television library: Friends, Doctor Who, The Big Bang Theory, South Park; HBO series including Game of Thrones Movie library: DC Comics superhero movies including The Dark Knight as well as others like Citizen Kane, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy Availability: May 2020 in the United States.

Amazon Prime Video

Cost: $12.99 per month or $119 per year through an Amazon Prime membership with free shipping and other benefits. $8.99 per month for Prime Video only. Discounts: $6.49 per month for students Original programming: The Grand Tour, Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Catastrophe. Television library: Downton Abbey, Bones, Mr. Robot. Movie library: You’ve Got Mail and The Silence of the Lambs. Availability: More than 200 countries.

Hulu

Cost: $5.99 per month or $11.99 per month without advertisements. Bundles: Can be bundled with Hulu’s live TV service. Original programming: The Handmaid’s Tale, Veronica Mars, The Mindy Project and Marvel’s Runaways. Television: Next-day TV episodes from networks including NBC, ABC, FOX and FX for shows including This is Us and Family Guy. Television library: The Good Doctor, ER, Lost, Golden Girls, Full House and Family Matters. Movie library: Titles including Mission Impossible: Fallout, the Transformers series and A Quiet Place. Availability: The United States and Japan

CBS All Access

Cost: $5.99 per month, or $9.99 per month without commercials. Discounts: 15 percent discount per month with an annual plan. Original programming: Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Good Fight, The Twilight Zone. Television library: Big Brother, NCIS, and The Brady Bunch. Movie library: Four Weddings and a Funeral, Ghost, the Rocky series. Availability: United States