NBC Sports has announced it will move all non-televised Premier League games to NBCUniversal’s new subscription-based, over-the-top video service Peacock beginning with the 2020-21 season.
Peacock, which is debuting nationally in the United States on July 15, will exclusively broadcast more than 175 Premier League matches on the fee-based Peacock Premium tier of the streaming service.
In turn, NBC Sports Gold’s “Premier League Pass” subscription streaming platform is being shut down, with its content shifting to Peacock starting next season. Included are full-event replays for all 380 matches on-demand (after 9 pm ET), as well as additional shoulder programming.
The main NBC network and cable channel NBCSN will still broadcast the majority of the league’s higher-profile matches.
“This exclusive Premier League programming is an exciting addition to our live sports content on Peacock Premium, and we are thrilled to continue delivering our best-in-class Premier League coverage to NBCUniversal linear television customers as well as new Peacock subscribers,” said Rick Cordella, Peacock’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer.
Peacock Premium, which is available on mobile, web and connected TV devices, will cost $9.99 a month without commercials and $4.99 a month with ads. There is also a limited version that will be free to customers, which will not house Premier League games.
However, in an effort to promote Peacock and gain additional subscribers, NBCUniversal earlier this week announced that the platform will exclusively present NBC Sports’ full Premier League match and studio coverage for free as part of its national debut on July 15.
As such, Peacock will exclusively air all four games scheduled that day as well as the studio programming that was due to be aired on cable channel NBCSN.
The Bournemouth v Crystal Palace Premier League match on June 20 marked the debut of live sports on Peacock Premium, which is currently available for select Comcast customers only.
The presence of the live Premier League content, and other planned sports to come to the service in future months, notably differentiates Peacock from its other entertainment-focused streaming competitors such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max.
Upcoming live sports content on Peacock will also include a new primetime Sunday NFL Wild Card playoff game, Olympics and Paralympics coverage, US Open, US Women’s Open and Ryder Cup golf, plus the recently announced Peacock Originals Lost Speedways, hosted by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and In Deep with Ryan Lochte.