YouTube Premium is becoming an even better value, as the service will soon include a subscription to Peacock at no extra cost for users in the United States.
Starting early next year, YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. will get access to Peacock's ad-supported Premium tier. This means you'll be able to watch films like Obsession and Minions, TV shows like Ted and Twisted Metal, and have access to Peacock's NFL and NBA offerings all through YouTube. The news was confirmed today as part of a larger initiative to expand Peacock's reach.
“With this agreement, Peacock accelerates its next phase of growth by bringing the service to millions of YouTube Premium subscribers, driving long-term value for our business," said Matt Strauss, Chairman, Media Group, NBCUniversal. "Combined with our YouTube TV extension, this agreement opens the door to new ways for audiences to discover, access and deepen engagement with NBCUniversal's industry-leading content wherever and however they choose to watch.”
Although there is no additional cost factored into this, some are worried it could create some kind of price hike for YouTube Premium in the future. We've already seen how such massive increases in value can lead to issues long-term, resulting in eventual price hikes. Xbox, for instance, made Call of Duty available through Game Pass for two years, which eventually led to a price increase on the service.
Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed that Call of Duty would no longer be available on Game Pass on day one and lowered the price of the subscription. For now, though, YouTube Premium will remain at $15.99. Should the price remain unchanged, this is a pretty incredible deal, especially for sports fans. Peacock's ad-supported Premium plan itself normally costs $10.99, so there's a fair bit of savings for those who already make use of YouTube Premium.
As of right now, there's no concrete release date for this expansion, but it is targeting a release of early 2027.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
