Peacock on Roku: Why it's not there on launch day

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Peacock on Roku: Why it's not there on launch solar day

(Image credit: Comcast/NBC)

Uh oh: nobody can watch Peacock on Roku. Yes, while today (July 15) marks the debut of NBC's Peacock TV service, it arrived with a familiar problem: it's not on some of the best streaming devices.

That's because it seems similar NBC'south new streaming service is just similar HBO Max, in that information technology's not on either Roku or Fire Tv set hardware -- ii of the most pop streaming device platforms in the U.Due south..

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While other platforms be, a streaming service is fighting confronting the winds if they try and launch without Roku and Amazon Fire Television set back up. Every bit of last yr, Roku has 39% of the U.s. streaming device market, while Amazon Burn down Tv has xxx%. That means Peacock would be unable to stream on 69% of the streaming devices in the country.

In an interview with CNET, Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal'due south Digital Enterprises downplayed the potential lack of Roku and Fire apps, proverb ""Nosotros're in discussions with everybody ... we would like to have the app available on all platforms, just we're committed to launching on the date that we gear up forth."

Why in that location's no Peacock on Roku or Fire TV

The Motley Fool highlights two large reasons for why these new streaming services aren't on the biggest platforms. The first stick in the ground is the user information. Peacock and HBO Max'southward parent companies AT&T and Comcast want consummate command, simply Roku and Amazon don't want to permit these new services onto their platform without getting something back.

Secondly, we accept the ads. Peacock has ads on its two cheaper tiers, but not that many -- only three to 5 minutes per hr -- and if Roku and Amazon were to run ads in those apps (they already do in many streaming service apps), information technology would drastically cut down how much Peacock is making.

When Disney Plus launched final winter, we knew about Roku support months before, as early every bit an August 2019 email to the press.

By contrast, when HBO Max launched in late May, there was hope that Roku and WarnerMedia could broker a last-second pact to become the new service on Roku at the start, simply that didn't happen, and more a month later, HBO's new service is still not on Roku. It'south also non on Amazon Fire Telly devices, either. That means HBO Max can simply attain 31% of streaming players in the U.S., and Peacock could be slowly walking towards that aforementioned challenge.

For our Peacock review during its early launch period (where it'due south gratuitous for Comcast customers with certain hardware) we tested it on the Xfinity Flex. While we liked the service'due south massive library of content, we besides noted its lack of originals (it will launch with some, including an adaptation of Brave New World).

Here's the total list of supported Peacock devices:

Peacock supported devices

• Android
• Android TV
• Apple TV 4K and Apple TV Hard disk drive
• Chromecast
• Comcast Xfinity X1
• Comcast Xfinity Flex
• iPad
• iPhone
• iPod touch
• LG Smart TVs
• Sony PlayStation 4
• Xbox One S and Xbox Ane X
• Vizio SmartCast TVs

Since Peacock is having not 1 but two launches—a soft launch for Xfinity customers, and a wider rollout for everyone else—y'all'd assume that NBCU would have wanted to make things perfect for its second launch (Narrator'due south Voice: It didn't). Those who take been using the service for costless on Xfinity devices have been the public beta testers for Peacock, and all that's left is to add the new exclusive shows and make sure everyone can stream information technology.

For anybody's sake — from streamers to the providers and even the advertisers taking advantage of the Peacock Gratis tier — nosotros hope these gaps in supported devices are paved over, and soon.

Henry is a senior editor at Tom'southward Guide roofing streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past half-dozen-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He'south as well covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/peacock-on-roku-why-its-not-there-on-launch-day

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