Peacock Price Hike: Streaming Service Raises Rates Again
Peacock Price Hike: New Tiers and NBA Games Signal Shifting Streaming Landscape
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Peacock is once again adjusting its subscription prices, introducing a new entry-level tier and increasing costs for its existing Premium and Premium Plus plans. This marks the third price hike for the streaming service in as many years, a move that coincides with its critically important investment in broadcasting live NBA games.
Peacock Unveils New “Select” Tier Amidst Price Adjustments
The streaming service is launching a new, more affordable option called Peacock Select. for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, this tier will provide access to current seasons of popular NBC and Bravo shows, alongside a selection of library programming. Notably, the Peacock select tier will not include sports content.
Existing subscribers will see changes to their current plans:
Premium: the monthly cost will rise to $7.99, and the annual price will be $79.99.
Premium Plus: The monthly price will increase to $11.99, and the annual subscription will cost $109.99.
These adjustments reflect a broader trend in the streaming industry, where price increases have become increasingly common.
NBAS Return to NBC Fuels Peacock’s Strategic Shift
The timing of Peacock’s price adjustments is especially significant as the service prepares to broadcast live NBA games later this year. NBCUniversal secured a deal to show basketball games, a commitment reportedly costing around $2.45 billion annually.
This strategic move brings the NBA back to NBC for the first time in 23 years. NBC previously held NBA rights from 1990 to 2002,a period that famously included all six of Michael Jordan’s championship wins with the Chicago Bulls.
Adding to the excitement, basketball legend Michael Jordan has been announced as a special contributor to Peacock’s NBA coverage for the 2025-26 season. Jordan expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC. The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella echoed this sentiment, highlighting Jordan’s unparalleled legacy: “Michael’s legacy both on and off the court speaks for itself. We’re incredibly proud to have him join our coverage.”
Industry-Wide Price Increases Continue
Peacock’s price adjustments are not an isolated event. The streaming landscape has seen a wave of price hikes across major platforms in the past year.
Netflix increased the price of its ad-supported tier by $1 per month in January.
disney Plus and Hulu both saw their monthly prices rise by $2 last year.
HBO Max (now Max) increased its ad-free tier by $1 per month.
Apple TV+ raised its subscription cost by $3 per month in late 2023.
These ongoing price adjustments suggest a maturing streaming market, where services are recalibrating their offerings and pricing strategies to balance content investment with subscriber value. The addition of high-profile sports like the NBA to Peacock’s lineup signals a clear intent to capture a larger share of the sports-viewing audience, even as it navigates the competitive and evolving world of subscription television.