YouTube Premium to bundle Peacock at no extra cost from early 2027

The deal

NBCUniversal and YouTube confirmed a multi-year strategic partnership on Monday (July 27) that bundles Peacock Premium with YouTube Premium at no additional cost for U.S. subscribers beginning in early 2027. The ad-supported Peacock tier, normally $10.99 per month, will be integrated into YouTube's interface, letting users discover and watch NBCU shows and live sports without leaving the platform. YouTube Premium, priced at $15.99 a month, already includes ad-free YouTube, background play and YouTube Music Premium; the bundle adds Peacock's library of NFL and NBA coverage, "Saturday Night Live," "Love Island USA," "Law & Order: SVU" and Bravo franchises. Peacock Premium will also become a standalone add-on through YouTube Primetime Channels later this summer, while the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus has been available there since late June.

“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.”

Background tensions

The pact resolves a standoff that flared last fall when NBCUniversal warned YouTube TV customers that its channels could go dark unless a broader distribution deal was reached. NBCU wanted Peacock baked into the YouTube TV linear bundle, but YouTube resisted. The new arrangement sidesteps that friction by tying Peacock to YouTube Premium instead of YouTube TV. The companies also extended NBCU's linear-channel carriage on YouTube TV and parent Comcast's distribution agreements across multiple YouTube products, while deepening their advertising and technology relationship.

Live sports and production

Beyond streaming catalog access, NBC Sports will become the production partner for select premier live sporting events on YouTube, with some events streaming live on the NBC Sports YouTube channel. The arrangement creates new sports production opportunities and builds on existing tech and ad ties between the two companies.

International expansion

Outside the United States, NBCUniversal's international services Universal+ and reality streamer Hayu will become available through YouTube Premium in select markets. The companies said those international bundles are in development, extending the partnership's reach to subscribers abroad.

Peacock's momentum

The YouTube deal comes days after Peacock reported its first-ever quarterly profit, for Q2 2026, reaching 48 million paid subscribers after adding 2 million in the quarter. The growth was fueled by FIFA World Cup and NBA Playoffs coverage and the popularity of reality series like "Love Island USA." YouTube Premium and Music counted 125 million subscribers worldwide last year, providing a vast base. Peacock still trails Netflix's 325 million global subscribers, and the company has leaned on distribution partnerships with Amazon and Apple while rivals pursue consolidation: Paramount Skydance has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox is buying Roku. The YouTube bundle is NBCU's broadest effort yet to place its content where audiences already spend time.