Comcast launches preview of new streaming service

Comcast began offering a preview of the premium tier of NBCUniversal’s new streaming service Peacock to some customers on Wednesday.

With most people under stay-at-home restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic, Comcast said it has seen a 50% increase in on-demand consumption year-over-year. Voice remote searches for free content are up nearly 250%.

“Now more than ever, there is a need for a free quality streaming service that can provide viewers with both the information they need to stay informed and entertainment they seek to escape the moment,” Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises, said in a statement.

Peacock, from Comcast subsidiary NBCUniversal, will feature more than 15,000 hours of movies and shows on its premier tier and 7,500 hours of content on its free tier. The premium tier will be available for $4.99 a month, and an ad-free tier will be available for an additional $5 a month.

X1 and Flex customers will be able to access the service by saying “Peacock” into their Xfinity Voice Remote. Flex customers will have access to the service beginning Wednesday, while X1 customers without Flex will be granted access over the next two weeks.

The on-demand content features 15,000 hours of movies and shows.

TV shows offered include: “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Superstore,” “Chicago Fire,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Saturday Night Live.”

It will also feature classic shows such as “Cheers,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Leave it to Beaver,” “Punky Brewster,” “The Carol Burnett Show” and “The Johnny Carson Show.”

Movies on Peacock include “Shrek,” “Jurassic Park,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Meet the Parents,” “Schindler’s List” and “E.T.”

The service will be available to anyone in the country, regardless if they are a Comcast customer, on July 15.