Comcast Announces New 'Peacock' Streaming Service
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Here's your money briefing. I'm J.R. Whalen at The Wall Street Journal in New York. A day after Netflix scored the streaming rights to Seinfeld, Comcast announced plans to roll out its own streaming service with classic NBC shows and new programming as well. We'll check in with the journal's entertainment reporter for details, including what it's going to cost you in a moment. First, some money in market news you should know. Remember the government shutdown last winter? It and the previous two shutdowns cost taxpayers about $4 billion. A bipartisan Senate committee ran the numbers and determined that most of it was for back pay for furloughed federal workers. The rest was for extra administrative work and late fees on interest payments.
The deadline to fund the government is on September the 30th. and feminine care products manufacturer Kimberly Clark hopes to capitalize on consumers' growing interest in natural products and sustainability.
What is Comcast’s new Peacock streaming service and when will it launch?
It has invested $25 million in startup Thinx, which makes reusable period underwear. Thinx launched in 2015 with $50 million in sales last year. Currently, a pair of Thinx reusable underwear sells for about $35 each. With Kimberly-Clark's investment, Thinks says that prices could come down to about $17 and give it access to more retailers like Target and Walmart.
A new streaming service is coming and it's bringing a hefty slate of star power. Comcast NBC Universal Division will launch Peacock, named for the network's logo, in April.
Which classic TV shows and reruns will Peacock include beyond NBC programming?
It's the latest in a crowded field with one common goal, give Netflix a good fight. Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter Joe Flint joins us from Los Angeles with more. So Joe, Peacock will have a mix of original and classic movies and TV shows. Will they only be NBC shows?
Well, no, actually they won't. In terms of the classic shows you mentioned, they have acquired other shows that weren't on NBC, such as Everybody Loves Raymond, which of course aired on CBS for a lot of years. They are looking to... create a very broad service and they want to have shows primarily, of course, there'll be NBC shows. Those are the easiest ones for them to go out and get the rights to and acquire. But I don't think they want to limit themselves to that when it comes to the reruns, because as crazy as it sounds, having a good library of reruns and classic TV shows that have aged well is very important for all these platforms.
And there'll be reboots of popular NBC shows from a few decades ago as well.
We are going to get a new Saved by the Bell and Punky Brewster. I know a lot of people have been waiting for that one.
What reboots and franchise series are planned for Peacock (Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, Battlestar Galactica)?
And also a reboot of Battlestar Galactica, which, you know, I think we were trying to figure this out earlier today, me and some of my colleagues. Battlestar Galactica show not entirely sure but either way the sci-fi shows have big core audiences and you know when you think about CBS all access their streaming service what was the first big show they did first original show a Star Trek series so you know sci-fi IP is very valuable and if that can bring in some some people to subscribe to the NBC service I think it's a good bet
Now, in terms of actors and directors and producers, what sort of A-list celebrities have signed on?
Not so bad, actually. Alec Baldwin and Kristen Slater are going to co-star in a series called Dr. Death, which is based on a true crime podcast. Demi Moore has signed up to do Brave New World, based on that novel. A lot of the NBC talent is agreeing to make new content for the platform, including the late night stars Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. They're going to oversee some new shows. Lauren Michaels, of course, the guru of all things Saturday Night Live, is going to work on a show that's – basically sort of a behind-the-scenes of Saturday Night Live, how the sausage gets made there type show. Mike Schur, who's one of their most prolific and successful producers who has worked on The Office and most recently The Good Place, he's making a new show for the streaming service starring Ed Helms.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:05–0:57
2
What is Comcast’s new Peacock streaming service and when will it launch?
0:57–1:39
3
Which classic TV shows and reruns will Peacock include beyond NBC programming?
1:39–2:51
4
What reboots and franchise series are planned for Peacock (Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, Battlestar Galactica)?
2:51–4:51
5
Which A-list actors, producers and late-night talent have signed on to create Peacock originals?
4:51–5:53
6
How much did Comcast pay to reacquire hit shows like The Office and why is that important?
5:53–7:21
7
How does Peacock fit into the wider streaming wars and why are legacy media companies launching services now?
7:21–9:20
8
What will Peacock cost subscribers and how might pricing affect consumer subscription decisions?
9:20–10:02
Speakers
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