PeacockTV, the English Premier League, and Promises Unkept
Yesterday I went looking to catch up on English Premier League action from the weekend on PeacockTV, NBC’s streaming service. I wanted the Tottenham match from gameday 13 particularly. I couldn’t find it.
At first I wondered if it was a problem with the Peacock interface, which to me is on the short end of usable given it lacks customization and buries the content I want. After a search, though, I learned that it wasn’t user error. Peacock has changed its policy. It no longer offers all EPL matches, or even most of them.
That change is a big one. When the service was rolling out and replacing NBC Sports Gold as the core American option for EPL broadcasts, Peacock advertised its coverage as including exclusive matches, plus access to all 380 matches on reply.
As of Dec. 14, 2020, the PeacockTV.com website continues to advertise this same thing:
https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/premier-league
However, my own experience confirmed on Reddit and Twitter is that that is false. Peacock had this to saw on Twitter.
Peacock will no longer have replays for matches that air on NBCSN/NBC. We will continue to have replays for any matches that are shown on Peacock.
Hmm. This seems problematic from a PR perspective, and perhaps from a legal one too. Indeed, Peacock’s Terms of Use, section 9, specifically speaks to Peacock promises (emphasis original).
At Peacock, we don’t make promises we can’t keep.
Well then. This sure seems like a promise Peacock could have kept. It just decided not to. And although I haven’t done a thorough analysis of the contract or the applicable law, Peacock’s decision to renege on its advertising (ie., a promise) to show all 380 EPL matches may be a breach of contract. It’s certainly bad optics.
My opinion is that this is a naked effort to extract more money from subscribers. Now a person needs two services, Peacock plus cable or cable alternative, to have access to all EPL fixtures. This would be an unwelcome development at any time, but doing it mid-season is next level. Comcast—owner of Peacock—is apparently continuing with its nonillustrious quest to be the worst company in America.