Paramount+ vs Peacock — CBS / MTV versus NBCU, the Two US Streaming Camps
Updated 2026-04-24
TL;DR
Paramount+ (parent: Paramount Global, home of CBS / MTV / Star Trek / Yellowstone) runs $7.99-12.99/mo and covers 100+ countries via standalone + SkyShowtime. Peacock (parent: NBCUniversal, home of SNL / WWE / Olympics / The Office) runs $7.99-13.99/mo and mostly covers the US + Sky territories (UK / IE / IT / DE / AT). Sports exclusives: Paramount+ has UEFA Champions League US rights; Peacock has NFL Sunday Night Football + Premier League US (since 2023). Bundle deals: Paramount+ via Walmart+; Peacock via Comcast Xfinity.
| Dimension | Paramount+ (US) | Peacock |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Paramount Global (CBS / MTV / Comedy Central / Paramount Pictures) | NBCUniversal (NBC / Bravo / USA / Universal Pictures) |
| Service regions | 100+ countries (standalone + SkyShowtime in 22 N / C / E European countries) | US + 5 Sky territories (UK / IE / IT / DE / AT) |
| Ad-supported price (US) | Essential $7.99/mo | Premium $7.99/mo |
| Top ad-free (US) | Premium $12.99/mo (incl. Showtime merger) | Premium Plus $13.99/mo |
| Exclusive series IP | Star Trek franchise / Yellowstone spinoffs (1923 / 1883) / NCIS / SpongeBob | The Office US / Parks and Rec / Poker Face / Bel-Air / Twisted Metal |
| Exclusive sports rights | UEFA Champions League US / NFL package / NCAA Basketball / NWSL | NFL Sunday Night Football / Premier League US (2023+) / Olympics / WWE Premium Live Events |
| Bundle / distribution | Walmart+ membership includes Paramount+ Essential | Comcast Xfinity premium plans include Peacock Premium |
| VPN strictness | 3-star — signup needs US payment, playback medium | 3-star — Peacock signup stricter (US ZIP + US card) |
Verdict
Star Trek / Yellowstone / Paramount theatrical films / UEFA Champions League → Paramount+. The Office US / Premier League / Sunday Night Football / Olympics / WWE → Peacock. Their sports portfolios barely overlap, so true sports fans often subscribe to both. From a VPN angle, Paramount+ is easier to onboard (SkyShowtime is wide in Europe). Peacock's US-ZIP + US-card signup is the real wall.