Full Breakdown
Peacock Adds Starz as an Add-On Subscription
7/1/2026, 3:10:45 PM
Deal Overview
Starting June 2026, Peacock users can add Starz directly from their account page. The add-on is offered across the Select, Premium and Premium Plus tiers, raising monthly costs to $19.98, $22.98 and $28.99 respectively – an incremental $12 per month. Starz appears as a brand button on Peacock.
Background & Strategy
The add-on follows NBCUniversal’s broader bundling push. A multi-year Hallmark partnership ended in 2025, and NBCU already cross-promotes with Apple, Fox One + ESPN and HBO Max + Disney. Chairman Matt Strauss has added video games and AI features to Peacock to broaden appeal. The launch coincides with Comcast’s announcement of a spinoff separating NBCUniversal and Sky from its cable and broadband units.
Subscriber Data & Pricing
Starz reported 12.7 million streaming subscribers in Q4 2025 and 17.6 million total including linear TV. Peacock remains U.S.-only with about 46 million subscribers. The $12-per-month add-on adds a modest increase over existing tier fees.
Official Statements & Corporate Rationale
NBCUniversal said the Starz add-on expands choice across all three tiers and gives subscribers flexibility to enhance their Peacock experience. Starz described the partnership as a way to enhance and expand the value of a broader platform while delivering a more complete, diverse offering through its original series and library films. Comcast framed the spinoff as part of an industry shift toward separating content creation from distribution.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This Starz add-on subscription expands choice for our customers across all three tiers, provides flexibility for subscribers to enhance their experience on Peacock, and allows for deeper engagement with complementary premium content,” — Will Gonzalez, Chief Growth & Data Officer, NBCUniversal Media Group
- “We’re pleased to deliver even more value to customers and give them the opportunity to access more of what they want to watch right on our platform.” — Will Gonzalez, NBCUniversal Media Group
- “We’re excited to partner with Peacock in bringing Starz as an add-on subscription to the platform for the first time ever,” — Alison Hoffman, President, Starz Networks
- “With our compelling slate of hit original series for women and underrepresented audiences, alongside our vast portfolio of premium Pay 1 and library films, Starz helps create a more complete and diverse offering for customers.” — Alison Hoffman, Starz Networks
Impact on the Streaming Landscape
The add-on broadens Peacock’s library without a separate app, potentially boosting retention as services face pressure to justify high content costs. Aligning with Starz’s franchises such as *Outlander* and *Power* positions Peacock against competing bundles from Disney, HBO Max and others.
Timeline
- 2025 – Hallmark bundle ends; Starz reports 12.7 M streaming subscribers (Q4).
- 2025 – Comcast signs YouTube deal for Peacock’s ad-free tier.
- June 2026 – Starz add-on launches on Peacock and Comcast announces NBCUniversal-Sky spinoff.
What’s Next
Peacock will add dedicated Starz content rails later in 2026 and may test additional premium add-ons as part of its post-spinoff growth plan.
