At Meta Connect 2022, the tech giant announced a three-year partnership with NBCUniversal that will bring Peacock to its Meta Quest virtual reality headset. Today, the streaming app is now available on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro devices.
Subscribers can get Peacock on the Meta Store and stream 90,000 hours of movies and TV shows in VR, such as fan favorites like “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “Yellowstone,” as well as Peacock originals like Poker Face and Bill Er”.
Users can also watch live sporting events in virtual reality, including Major League Baseball, English Football League, WWE wrestling, Big Ten Football and NFL games, and more.
In Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro, users can multitask by watching multiple screens simultaneously. Therefore, Peacock subscribers can watch content within the streaming app while also browsing the internet or using other apps.
In addition, users will soon interact with the Dunder Mifflin gang in virtual reality. Later this year, Meta IP NBCU progresses to Meta Horizon Worlds and the Meta Avatars store. Upcoming NBCU IPs into these immersive environments include DreamWorks, Universal Monsters, Halloween Horror Nights, Blumhouse, and more.
Peacock also offers eligible consumers limited-time offers. Peacock subscribers who already own Meta Quest 2 or Meta Quest Pro can get a Peacock Premium subscription at no additional cost for three months. Peacock customers who purchase a Meta Quest device will receive a free one-year subscription to Peacock Premium.
Customers must live in the United States or US Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and US Virgin Islands) and be 18 years of age or older to qualify for Offers. Offer ends April 11, 2024.
“The launch of Peacock on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro meaningfully expands the existing partnership between Meta and NBCUniversal, providing users with even more opportunities to experience the presentation of Peacock’s powerful content in an immersive VR and streaming experience,” said Annie Le, EVP, Head of Global Partnerships and Development strategy, in a statement. “Whether it’s a virtual reality experience with The Office or an iconic movie franchise, a live sporting event or the original Peacock movie, there is something for everyone.”
With the streaming company struggling to keep up with bigger competitors Netflix and HBO Max, Peacock is likely hoping the show will attract more subscribers to the platform. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the streaming service gained five million paying subscribers, bringing the total number to 20 million. However, the company also reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $978 million.
Peacock has shifted away from its free offer, eliminating its free tier for new customers. Also, Xfinity customers are no longer given free access to the Peacock Premium plan. Peacock will report its financial results for the first quarter of 2023 on April 27.
Meta is also likely betting on the partnership for more revenue as it reported three quarterly declines in revenue in a row. The latest earnings report showed a 4% decline in revenue year over year. In 2022, the virtual reality division lost $3.67 billion. Meta will report its results for the first quarter on April 26.