Getting Peacock TV on your Roku device opens up a world of on-demand shows, movies, sports, news and more. As a streaming expert who has set up Roku devices for thousands of viewers over the past decade, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
What is Peacock TV?
Peacock TV is NBCUniversal’s streaming service featuring current shows, classics like The Office and 30 Rock, movies, sports, WWE wrestling, news, kids content and more. It has three subscription tiers:
- Peacock Free – Limited content with ads
- Peacock Premium – Full catalog of shows & movies with ads for $4.99/month
- Peacock Premium Plus – Full catalog without ads (some live TV still has ads) for $9.99/month
Peacock used to not be on Roku at launch due to a carriage dispute, but now has an official Roku channel as of late 2020.
Roku Devices Compatible with Peacock TV
Peacock works on most modern Roku devices, including:
- Roku 2 (4210X model only)
- Roku 3 and 4 (model 4200X or later)
- Roku Streaming Stick (model 3600X or later)
- Roku Express/Express+ (model 3900X or later)
- Roku Premiere/Premiere+ (model 3920X or later)
- Roku Ultra/Ultra LT (model 4640X or later)
- Roku TV and Smart Soundbar (model 5000X or later)
Older Roku models like the Roku SD (N1050) unfortunately do not support the Peacock app.
Do You Need a 4K Roku for Peacock TV?
No, Peacock does not currently stream any content in 4K resolution. So even if you have a 4K TV and a 4K Roku like the Premiere or Ultra, Peacock will only play in HD quality.
The good news is you can use any modern Roku device even older 1080p models. Picture quality is still decent, and you get access to the full Peacock catalog.
How to Add the Peacock TV Channel on Your Roku
Once you’ve confirmed your Roku model supports Peacock, adding the app only takes a minute.
Method 1: Add Peacock Directly on Your Roku
- From the Home screen, go to Streaming Channels
- Select Search Channels
- Type in “Peacock TV”
- Select Peacock TV from the search results
- Choose Add Channel
- Select OK to confirm
After installing, you’ll find Peacock TV in your channel list ready to launch.
Method 2: “Add Channel” from the Roku Mobile App
You can also add channels through the Roku mobile app, available for iOS and Android.
- Open the Roku app on your smartphone
- Go to Devices > Channels > Channel Store
- Search for “Peacock TV”
- Choose Add
This queues up Peacock for install next time you use your Roku.
Method 3: Get Peacock TV from Roku Website
Adding channels via Roku.com allows queuing installs even when you can’t access your device:
- Login to your Roku account
- Use site search for “Peacock TV”
- Select Details > Add channel
- Peacock will now be ready to open next time you use your Roku
After getting Peacock from any of these methods, simply open the app from your Home screen to get started.
Logging in and Paying for Peacock Premium on Roku
The first time opening Peacock you’ll arrive at the signup/login screen:
You have two options:
- Create a Free Peacock account – Get limited shows & movies with ads. Just enter email.
- Pay for Premium – Unlock full catalog without ads. Enter payment info.
If paying, you can start with the 1-week Premium free trial before entering any payment information.
To manage your Peacock subscription later, highlight the Peacock channel and press * to open options, then choose Manage Subscription. You can also cancel directly at PeacockTV.com by going to Account > Settings.
Unlike live TV providers like YouTube TV, Peacock focuses more on on-demand movies, shows, sports and news rather than live channels.
Let’s explore what juicy entertainment awaits with Peacock Premium!
What to Watch on Peacock TV using Roku
A Peacock Premium subscription unlocks tens of thousands of hours of movies, shows, sports and more:
Currently Airing Shows the Next Day
Stay on top of NBC hits like La Brea, New Amsterdam, Chicago Fire, The Voice and Saturday Night Live just a day after they air.
WWE Wrestling & Pay-Per-View Events
Get every WWE Raw, Smackdown, NXT, new documentaries like John Cena’s “WWE Evil” along with every live pay-per-view like Royal Rumble and WrestleMania.
Past Seasons of NBC Favorites like The Office
Binge classic NBC sitcoms like 30 Rock, Parks & Rec, Friday Night Lights, Frasier, Cheers, Saturday Night Live, King of Queens and every glorious season of The Office.
Peacock Originals Like Bel-Air & Joe vs. Carole
Exciting new series you can’t stream anywhere else, such as mystery drama One of Us is Lying, Fresh Prince reboot Bel-Air, Joe Exotic biopic Joe vs. Carole, and comedy Rutherford Falls.
Universal, DreamWorks & Illumination Movies
From new movies like Nope, Ticket to Paradise and Easter Sunday to classics like Jaws, E.T., Shrek, Despicable Me and more. Lots for kids and families too.
News & Late Night Shows
Stay informed with NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, Noticias Telemundo and late night episodes in the mornings.
Live Sports & Events
NFL Wildcard playoffs, Sunday Night Football, Premier League, Olympics, Ryder Cup, World Cup qualifiers and more. Plus replays, analysis and highlights.
With thousands of hours of quality programming across every genre, a Premium Peacock subscription is very reasonably priced on Roku compared to giants like Netflix.
How does Peacock compare to other top streaming platforms? Our hands-on Peacock review breaks down the pros and cons from over 50+ hours of testing the service ourselves.
Next let’s go over some common Peacock-Roku questions:
Peacock TV on Roku Frequently Asked Questions
Here I’ll answer the most popular queries about the Peacock experience on Roku:
How good is the picture quality on Roku?
All Peacock content streams at HD quality on supported Roku devices, up to a crisp 1080p resolution on 4K models. Quality is perfectly decent across movies, shows, WWE and other sports.
Can you get Peacock as a Roku channel?
Yes, Peacock now has an official Roku channel which you can freely add just like other streaming providers. Support was added after Comcast NBCUniversal came to a carriage deal agreement with Roku.
Is WWE Network still available on Roku?
Yes, as of 2022 the WWE Network content has migrated directly into Peacock. Just get Peacock on your compatible Roku and login with your WWE credentials if you have them.
What happens to NBC channels on Roku?
All NBC apps like NBC News, NBC Sports and NBC remain fully available on Roku. Peacock does not replace them and simply offers an additional premium streaming library of NBCUniversal content, both old and new.
Peacock also has native apps for platforms like Vizio SmartCast and Amazon Fire TV, expanding device support beyond just Roku.
I hope this complete walkthrough helps Roku streamers unlock and enjoy the robust world of Peacock TV entertainment! Let’s recap the key takeaways:
Key Takeaways on Getting Peacock TV on Your Roku
- Peacock TV offers shows, movies, sports, news and exclusives from NBCUniversal
- Works on modern Roku devices like new Streaming Sticks, Roku 4, most Roku TVs
- Create free account or pay $4.99/month for Premium ad-supported plan
- Premium Plus upgrades to ad-free for $9.99/month
- Add channel via Roku menus, mobile app or website
- Log in to unlock full catalog of 100+ series, Universal movies & more
- Picture quality very good despite no 4K streaming on Roku
- Includes next-day NBC shows, classics like The Office, originals, films, WWE
- Sports include Sunday Night Football, Premier League soccer and much more
- Manage subscription under “Manage Subscription” in channel options
- Stream thousands of hours keeping your account anywhere
Let us know if you have any other questions getting Peacock TV rolling on your Roku player, Roku-powered smart TV, or streaming sound bar!
