NEW YORK — Thanks to snagging the rights to such popular OTT-consumed fare as The Office and Parks and Recreation, there’s been a whole lot of buzz surrounding NBCUniversal‘s soon-to-launch OTT offering, first announced in May at its 2019-2020 Upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall.
As of Sept. 17, it now has a name — one that plays into the heritage of one of the most famous logos in the history of television.
Introducing “Peacock” (www.
The forthcoming service is scheduled to debut in April 2020 but will take “center stage” at the end of July, NBCUniversal says, during the 2020 Summer Olympics.
In addition to TV series, Peacock will also feature “blockbusters and critically-acclaimed films” from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination and other big Hollywood studios. In addition, Peacock “will tap into NBCUniversal’s unmatched ability to deliver a broad range of compelling topical content across news, sports, late-night and reality.”
With confidence exuding, NBCUniversal believes it has a strong alternative for those who subscribe to services ranging from Netflix to Hulu, Amazon and lesser-known services. Peacock will be both advertising and subscription supported, using a model similar to Hulu.
Details on pricing and distribution will be announced closer to launch.
REBOOTS AND RETRO SHOOTS
What can Peacock consumers expect?
Among the drama offerings are a reboot of Battlestar Galactica — or, to be precise, offering a reboot of the 2004-2010 series, based on the original 1978 offering. Also in the mix: a take on the classic Aldous Huxley dystopian novel “Brave New World.”
But wait … Peacock will also feature reboots of beloved 1990s teen sitcom Saved By The Bell featuring original cast members including Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez; and Punky Brewster.
The latter program was aimed at children and aired on NBC in the early 1980s. In this version, the lead character will appear as a grown-up, and will be played by original actress Soliel Moon-Frye.
Unscripted shows will include a Saturday Night Live docu-series, Who Wrote That, “exploring the famous personalities in front of and behind the camera,” along with “an original talk show series from Jimmy Fallon, in collaboration with Matador Content and Universal Television Alternative Studio.” A spinoff of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise is also in the works.
Second-run fare is also an anticipated big draw, and 30 Rock and Cheers will be joined by such programs as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Downton Abbey, Everyone Loves Raymond, House, King Of Queens, Married…With Children, Monk, Parenthood, Top Chef and Will & Grace.
For Telemundo viewers looking for something on “Peacock,” NBCUniversal is promising “more than 3,000 hours” of the Spanish-language broadcast TV network’s content, including original dramedy Armas de Mujer, a new series from the makers of “La Reina del Sur.” That will be joined by library titles “100 Dias Para Volver,” “Betty in NY,” “El Barón” and “Preso No. 1.”
