Peacock Drops AVOD Tier, Focusing on Paid Subscribers
January 31, 2023
NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming platform has dropped its free ad-supported option for new subscribers. The service, which added 5 million paid subscribers in the most-recent fiscal period, is focusing on growing the $4.99 (with ads) and $9.99 (without ads) subscription tiers. Current AVOD subscribers will be able to continue accessing limited content.
Peacock, which ended 2022 with 20 million paid subscribers, is also offering one year of the $4.99 monthly option for $29.99 (regularly $49.99) to new subscribers for a limited time.
NBCUniversal attributes the surge in Peacock paid subscribers in part to the availability of Universal Pictures’ growing library of films, including Oscar-nominated Tár, Violent Night, She Said, Ticket to Paradise, Bros, Nope, Mid-Century, The Silent Twins and Halloween Ends, among others.
The aggressive promotion underscores NBCUniversal’s attempt to narrow Peacock’s gap with competing SVOD platforms, including Hulu with 43 million, Paramount+ with 46 million subs, HBO/HBO Max with 92 million, Disney+ with 164 million and Netflix with 231 million.
The news was first reported by The Streamable.