Comcast streaming service Peacock launches amid concerns over advertising demand

NBCUniversal's parent company Comcast officially launched its streaming service Peacock on Wednesday. Craig Moffett, founder and senior analyst at MoffettNathanson, joins "Squawk Box" to discuss what the launch would add to the streaming environment.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal is “evaluating” moving up the nationwide launch of its subscription video service Peacock, according to Matt Strauss, Peacock’s chairman.

NBCUniversal planned to release Peacock’s free and paid versions nationwide on July 15. While that day is still the target “for the moment,” Strauss said his team was considering moving the launch date up to get Peacock’s programming in front of millions of Americans trapped at home under coronavirus quarantines.

“We feel even more strongly we need to bring Peacock as quickly to market as possible,” Strauss said on a conference call for reporters.

As planned, Comcast’s Xfinity subscribers will get a preview of Peacock beginning Wednesday, April 15, when the streaming service’s programming will be available at no extra charge for all pay TV and broadband customers.

Comcast customers will get access to Peacock’s full library of shows through their cable boxes or Flex streaming boxes including old NBC hits “Parks and Recreation,” “30 Rock” and “Law & Order: SVU,” the entire “Saturday Night Live” catalog, and Universal Pictures films such as “Jurassic Park,” “E.T.” and “Schindler’s List.”

The Peacock mobile application and smart TV application won’t be ready until the nationwide launch date, whether that’s July 15 or sooner, Strauss said. Peacock originals, such as “Brave New World,” based on the novel by Aldous Huxley, and a reboot of “Saved By The Bell,” with original cast members including Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez, will be available later in 2020 or in 2021, Strauss said.

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[SiyabongaTiti-qkkj]

beautiful blueprint we are blues now-a-days 💙 ❤️ 🎶

[YuureiInu]

They should make competition to Youtube instead

[sunnycheba]

Anthony Wood is right. We are going back to the days of free broadcasting. The good old days when you could watch boxing on ABC, NBC or CBS. Sure there will be a couple bundles of subscription services but not as many as you think. Comcast better buy Roku.

[MusicradioNetwork]

Since I already got HBO Max, time to get into Peacock. Too bad it’s not on the App Store yet.

[SiyabongaTiti-qkkj]

like that hooking part and advertisements

[jessiestone]

The host has two different eye colors?

[Me-wqjc]

They need to start letting us watch some of these movies for free instead of charging us!!! I have been trying to watch movies “on demand” and when I choose free movies...I get hit with rent or buy or subscribe!!! We r stuck inside our homes paying for cable. This is ridiculous those ceos r making bank off of our money.