Peacock is now live and available to stream on a number of devices, although smart TVs are currently one of the least supported product groups. As a result, knowing exactly what TVs NBCUniversal’s new streaming service is accessible on will make sure there are no hidden surprises after signing up for a subscription.
Peacock launched in the US in July and is currently available with three different streaming plans: free, Premium and Premium Plus. However, as is often the case with these streaming services, the cost doesn't matter so much if the device support that an interested consumer needs is not available. This is even more important when it comes to Peacock, as similar to HBO Max, NBCU’s streaming service is currently not available on either the Fire TV or Roku platforms.
With these two streaming device lines out of contention, many will be hoping their smart TV comes with Peacock support as that’s the next easiest way to access apps without having to pay for any additional hardware. Unfortunately, smart TV compatibility is also currently limited with Peacock having launched with support for only two specific TV brands and one third-party TV platform, according to Peacock’s help pages.
Here are the smart TVs currently compatible with Peacock:
- LG smart TVs (WebOS 3.5 or above)
- Vizio smart TVs with SmartCast 2.0 or 3.0 (2015 and newer)
- Smart TVs powered by Android TV
How To Access Peacock On A Smart TV
While owners of a newer LG or Vizio smart TV should have no trouble in accessing Peacock, those with a TV from other brands are likely to run into trouble. Arguably, the inclusion of Android TV support is quite important here as that includes a number of smart TVs from a variety of third-party brands, including Sony, Sharp, and Hisense. As a result, owners of a TV that is powered by Android TV should find they are able to download the Peacock app from the Google Play Store without too many issues.
For owners of other branded smart TVs, including Samsung, the wait will go on for Peacock to add support for those devices. Furthermore, with the lack of Roku and Fire TV support, they may find that their options to access using a third-party device is equally as limited. Currently, subscribers can access Peacock on a smart TV through Comcast Xfinity set-top boxes, Apple TV or using a smartphone and casting with a Google Chromecast dongle. Alternatively, Peacock can also be streamed on a smart TV by connecting a games console, such as Sony’s PlayStation 4 or Microsoft’s Xbox One.
Source: Peacock