Watching Sporting Events on Peacock: A Primer for the Uninitiated Masses
This is a quick follow-up to the recent Peacock-related post. Since information sometimes gets buried within a thread once it has attained 90+ responses, here's a quick guide to the Peacock streaming service and a brief synopsis on my experiences with it while devouring English Premier League (EPL) football over the last few years:
1. Peacock is a streaming service, not a cable channel. Sign up for it using a web browser on your computer or download the Peacock app on your smart phone, tablet, smart TV, or Roku/Chromecast-like device.
2. Once signed up, you can watch the game live on the app like cable or digital antenna TV.
3. The Peacock app will have a full game replay available after the game ends. In my EPL viewing experience, the replay should be available within 30-60 minutes after the game ends. It's a DVR-like utility, with one major warning...
4. WARNING: While I just proclaimed the Peacock app to have DVR-like capabilities, be very careful if you're coming from the DirecTV world of DVRs or are accustomed to YTTV that allow you to watch a recorded live event from the beginning (or catch up to live by watching key replays). With DirecTV, I would usually wait about 60 minutes after kickoff before watching the recording so I could fast forward through commercials and halftime. My EPL viewing experience on Peacock has taught me, though, that you cannot catch up to real time in a similar fashion. The only Peacock option that I see if I tune in to a live event after its start time is a "Watch Now" button. Press this button at your own risk if you prefer not knowing the score and think you're watching a true DVR recording - you will be viewing the LIVE event as if you have turned on the TV circa 1983. Wait for the full game replay to be posted to the Peacock app (see #3 above) if you prefer not knowing the score before you watch the game.
5. You can access the game replay on the Peacock app for at least 30 days. EPL replays used to have a disclaimer stating that the replay expired after 30 days. But I honestly didn't see that disclaimer when I just checked the recent ND-Navy replay that is currently archived on Peacock. Just know that you will be able to access the replay for awhile afterwards.
Other MGoBlog Peacock veterans can (and will) correct any of the above information. Happy viewing!
August 29th, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
I'm wondering if you use multiple streams (it says each account is allowed three of them), what are the odds that the streams stay in sync? Having multiple rooms watching could be interesting if one stream is a couple seconds different... someone is getting spoiler-ed.
It seems that with streaming apps, "live" is subjective.
August 29th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
Thank you very much for taking the time to explain this to the group. Go Blue
August 29th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
I thought this Athletic article($) gave a good overview of how to watch CFB this year. Long story short:
There’s no clear winner....
The rise of streaming has put more strain on fans, some of whom now have to pay extra for games they used to get in a normal cable package. But the nice thing about college football compared to the NFL is you can generally get as much or as little as you want. As long as you pay for it.
One neat thing is how many games are available with just an antenna this year - and a lot of local channels also have their own apps that you can stream their broadcasts too, thoguh I've never tried it for sports.
August 29th, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
Is the peacock feed going to be 1-2 plays behind?
When I have watched sports on YouTube TV, I notice the feed is typically a play behind. So not ideal if you look at scores on apps, follow Twitter, etc. I can see the play result on a score app first.
August 30th, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
In my experience I've found that streaming usually results in a lag of 30-45 seconds behind live action (as opposed to watching via a cable box or OTA antenna which shows action as it's happening). So, if you're watching on YTTV, Hulu Live, Sling, ESPN app, Peacock app, FOX app, etc., it's going to be about a half-minute behind.
August 29th, 2023 at 4:47 PM ^
I think I used this code to sign up for 3 months at $2.50 a month: NTSEL3HMWTDP54N. There might be better offers out there if you want to waste $10 of your time to save $1.50...
August 29th, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^
I will add that Premier League games now have a 24 hour period before you are able to watch the replay. It used to be within an hour of the game ending but is now 24 hours from the games scheduled start time. Im not sure if you will be able to DVR style watch the Michigan game, I think I would just go for it live and not risk having to wait until the next day to watch.
August 29th, 2023 at 8:17 PM ^
I may be wrong, but replays of any EPL games that were originally broadcast on NBC, USA, or some other cable-like channel used to have a 24 hour period before the replay was available on Peacock. But EPL games that aired exclusively on Peacock were usually available within 30-60 minutes after the game ended.
Bottom line: we'll just have to see how this one plays out on Saturday!
August 29th, 2023 at 11:09 PM ^
You know what both of the matches I tried to watch in the last two weeks aired on NBC/USA so you might be onto something here. This would be great news as it would save me a lot of 24 hour spoiler avoidance and frustration.
August 29th, 2023 at 7:03 PM ^
Question re a different game: The MSU game seems to be one of the few on the schedule without a designated network or time. I saw a McMurphy tweet saying it would be a night game at NBC, but there's been nothing else. And I'd be sort of surprised if Sparty made the game at night after last year's debacle. Then again, it's Sparty.
August 29th, 2023 at 7:10 PM ^
See if you have any promo codes from Universal - snagged 3 mos of Peacock for $1.99+tax per month.
August 29th, 2023 at 7:31 PM ^
Unrelated to Peacock, what would be the earliest you could expect to see a youtube replay?
August 29th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Not sure if there's another thread on this - but we are going to a wedding this weekend in Antigua, Guatemala (where my wife is from). I know where their gringo sports bars are but does anyone know if they'll be able to carry/show peacock or if I should try to express VPN to my phone?
August 30th, 2023 at 9:41 AM ^
Yes, restaurants and bars will be able to show games on Peacock but whether or not the establishments in Guatemala will have set that up is an entirely different question. I'd have a backup plan just in case.
https://cordcuttersnews.com/peacock-strikes-deal-to-bring-its-exclusive-sporting-events-to-bars/
August 30th, 2023 at 1:14 AM ^
Anyone asking me to pay extra money to watch a game with a 5 TD and change spread can kiss my big, hairy ass.