Streaming player wars: Peacock won’t be on Amazon
The latest new streamer, Peacock from NBCUniversal, debuts Wednesday, but you won’t be able to find it on the two most popular streaming player platforms, Roku or Amazon.
Together, they account for some 70% of the streaming viewing audience, with each claiming 40 million active users.
Both rejected HBO Max when it debuted in May as well, and haven’t softened in bringing it on either.
So if you’ve got a yen for watching reruns of “Parks and Rec” or favorites from the current NBC lineup, like an all-day Today show channel or “Saturday Night Live” on demand, and love the idea of a “Max” HBO with special channels devoted to DC Comics, TCM and more in addition to the HBO programming, where to go?
Here are some options:
Apple TV
Comes in three varieties, starting at $149.99 for a unit that streams in 1080p resolution, or the 4K models, at $179.99 (with 32 gigabyte storage) or $199.99 with 64 GBs. These units are considerably more expensive than Roku and Amazon, which start at around $25 during the holidays and regularly go for $29.99 for Roku and $39.99 for Amazon.
Google Chromecast
A budget option, at $29.99, Google Chromecast is more complicated to use than the other units. You find the program on your smartphone and then click a button on the phone to “cast” it to the TV. Apple offers similar tools via AirPlay 2, and casting shows from the phone and tablets to Samsung, Sony, Vizio and LG TVs.
Microsoft Xbox
An expensive way to get the Peacock or HBO Max, but for $299.99, Microsoft’s gaming system will also stream channels to your TV, by downloading apps from the Microsoft app store. NBCUniversal says Peacock will be coming to Sony PlayStation 4 gaming devices the week of July 20.
Smart TVs
NBCUniversal says smart TVs from Vizio, Sony (Android TV models) and LG will be able to access Peacock.
NBC’s parent company, Comcast, happens to be the nation’s largest cable operator. So naturally, Peacock is available there as well as on its branded Xfinity platform.