John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 02.01.2023 01:Feb AM EST

Peacock’s Free Tier Is No Longer Available for New Subscribers

Peacock's prospective subscribers now have fewer options to consider when they sign up for the first time.

NBCUniversal's streaming platform recently confirmed it is no longer offering its free tier to new subscribers, forcing them to choose between its two paid subscription plans.

Subscribers still enjoying Peacock's free tier can still do so despite NBCUniversal pulling the tier off their list of offerings, per Engadget.

NBCUniversal Peacock Free Tier Removal Details

NBCUniversal recently mentioned to The Streamable it is no longer offering its free tier to people subscribing to its Peacock streaming service for the first time. As a result, new Peacock subscribers will need to choose either its Premium or Premium Plus subscription plan to enjoy the platform's content.

Peacock's Premium subscription plan allows subscribers to stream new and hit shows, films, and original content on-demand on their device of choice, along with live sports games and events, current NBC and Bravo shows, and more than 50 Always-On channels.

Meanwhile, Peacock's Premium Plus plan provides everything the previous subscription plan has to offer, along with the ability to download and watch select titles offline, watch their local NBC channel live, and ad-free streaming for certain content.

Peacock's Premium subscription plan costs $4.99 monthly, while its Premium Plus subscription plan comes with a $9.99 price tag.

Those who are still subscribed to Peacock's free tier can continue to enjoy their subscription.

However, this tier will only be available to current users who cancel their Premium subscription or those who had access to one of the paid tiers for free, like Cox internet customers.

A Peacock spokesperson mentioned that this move reflects a strategy shift within NBCUniversal, which now believes that Peacock's paid tiers are the best way to experience what the streaming platform has to offer. The spokesperson also mentioned that the company expects that the Premium tier will grow to 100,000 hours of content in 2023 with the help of shows like "Poker Face," live sports like the Women's World Cup, Big Ten Football, and Premier League, along with a library of shows that includes "The Office" and "Yellowstone."

Peacock's free tier subscription plan provided new users with select episodes of Peacock originals, select movies, and even whole show seasons.

Is NBCUniversal Gambling on Success?

Peacock's move is an interesting one, as NBCUniversal previously marketed it around the idea of being one of the few premium streaming services that offered a tiered approach that included a free option. However, Peacock may be banking on its success to increase revenue, with it doubling its paid subscriber total from nine million to 20 million subscribers in 2022.

Whether Peacock's new subscribers will take this change kindly is still debatable, with its competitors making moves to expand their free offerings, either on their service or through third-party streamers. These competitors include Warner Bros. Discovery, which recently struck deals with Tubi and Roku to stream their canceled series for free, per Vulture.

Regardless, Peacock is considered one of the streaming services that provide the best value for their content.