In a move that’s ruffling feathers among bargain-hunting streamers, Peacock has announced it’s discontinuing its monthly Premium Plus add-on, a popular hack for scoring ad-free viewing on the cheap. The change, detailed in emails sent to subscribers this week, is forcing users who paired the add-on with discounted annual plans—especially Black Friday deals—to make tough choices. The news has sparked frustration among cord-cutters who mastered the art of combining promotions to enjoy ad-free Peacock at a fraction of the usual cost.
“We’re simplifying your billing and adjusting your plan,” the email reads. “Starting soon, we’re no longer offering Premium Plus on a separate add-on basis, so we’ll need to cancel your monthly Plus add-on subscription.” For affected users, inaction means an automatic downgrade to Peacock Premium, the ad-supported tier, later this month. Those determined to keep their ad-free experience must switch to the full Peacock Premium Plus plan, which comes with a higher price tag but includes a refund for any unused portion of their current plan.
The Premium Plus add-on, priced at $6 per month, was a game-changer for savvy subscribers. Typically, a year of Peacock Premium costs $80, and adding the Premium Plus add-on for 12 months brought the total to $152 for ad-free streaming. By contrast, the standalone Premium Plus plan runs $140 annually, making the add-on a slight overpay for standard subscribers. But the real magic happened when users stacked the add-on with promotional deals. Take Peacock’s 2024 Black Friday offer: a full year of Peacock Premium for just $20. Tacking on the $6 monthly Premium Plus add-on, users could secure ad-free Peacock for a mere $92 a year—a steal compared to the usual $140 Premium Plus rate.
Now, those deal-hunters face a dilemma. They can either stick with their discounted Premium plan and endure ads for the remainder of their promotional period or request a refund for unused months and upgrade to Premium Plus at full price. For someone who snagged the $20 Black Friday deal, switching to Premium Plus could mean paying significantly more to maintain ad-free viewing.
Peacock’s decision comes as streaming services increasingly tighten their belts, with many raising prices or cracking down on loopholes to boost revenue. The company hasn’t disclosed why it’s axing the add-on, but the move aligns with a broader industry trend toward simplified pricing tiers and fewer discounts. For now, subscribers are left scrambling to weigh their options before the deadline hits. One thing’s clear: the days of dirt-cheap, ad-free Peacock are over, and thrifty cord-cutters are mourning the loss.
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