YouTube Premium is getting a major streaming upgrade. Beginning in early 2027, eligible subscribers in the United States will receive access to the ad-supported Peacock Premium service through a multi-year partnership between YouTube and NBCUniversal.
The agreement brings Peacock’s movies, television series, originals and live sports into the YouTube experience, while extending NBCUniversal’s distribution arrangement with YouTube TV. Here’s what subscribers can expect.
TL;DR
- Peacock Premium will be bundled with YouTube Premium for eligible U.S. subscribers in early 2027.
- Viewers will get Peacock programming, including live sports, films and series, inside the YouTube experience.
- The deal also expands international distribution and extends NBCUniversal’s YouTube TV agreement.
What Will YouTube Premium Subscribers Get?
According to YouTube’s official announcement, the bundle will combine YouTube Premium’s existing benefits, including ad-free YouTube viewing, background play, downloads and YouTube Music, with ad-supported Peacock Premium. The companies have not yet announced an exact launch date or whether the standard YouTube Premium price will change.
Peacock’s catalog includes live sports such as the NFL, NBA, Olympics, MLB, Premier League, WNBA and college competitions. Subscribers will also be able to watch shows including Saturday Night Live, Love Island USA, Law & Order: SVU, The Office and The Real Housewives franchise, along with Universal films.
YouTube said subscribers will receive access from within its platform, reducing the need to move between separate streaming apps. The Verge similarly reported that Peacock’s shows, movies and live sports will stream directly through the YouTube app.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said the partnership would “redefine what a modern entertainment subscription can be for consumers.” Matt Strauss, Chairman of NBCUniversal’s Media Group, said it “accelerates its next phase of growth” by bringing Peacock to millions of YouTube Premium subscribers.
Why Does The Peacock And YouTube Deal Matter?
Reuters reported that YouTube Music and Premium had more than 125 million global subscribers, including trials, compared with Peacock’s 48 million U.S. subscribers. The agreement represents Peacock’s biggest wholesale distribution partnership so far, giving NBCUniversal access to YouTube’s much wider subscription base.
The deal arrives shortly after Peacock reported its first quarterly profit. TechCrunch framed the move as a distribution-led strategy at a time when other media companies are pursuing acquisitions, with Peacock choosing bundles that place its content on platforms audiences already use.
The partnership reaches beyond the main U.S. bundle. Universal+ and Hayu will become available through YouTube Premium in selected international markets, while Peacock Premium will also be sold separately through YouTube Primetime Channels. Peacock Premium Plus has already been available through Primetime Channels since late June.
NBC Universal and YouTube are also extending their multi-year YouTube TV distribution agreement. The arrangement covers NBCUniversal’s entertainment, news and sports networks, while deepening collaboration in advertising technology, distribution and sports production.
Topics for more insights:
A selection of NBCUniversal live sporting events will stream on the NBC Sports YouTube channel, and NBC Sports will serve as production partner for selected major live events on YouTube.
For YouTube, the agreement strengthens Premium as an all-in-one subscription spanning creator videos, music, Hollywood entertainment and live sports. For Peacock, it offers broader reach without requiring a major acquisition, making distribution the centerpiece of its next growth phase.
