Broadcasting the 2021 Olympics is no easy task, especially when the goal is to produce 7,000-plus hours of content. That’s why NBCUniversal is utilizing six TV networks — NBC, USA, NBCSN, CNBC, Olympic Channel and Golf Channel — to televise its Olympic coverage.
However, there is another tool that the company is using to broadcast live Olympic events. That would be Peacock, which is a free streaming service created by the company.
Peacock is just over a year old, as it launched on July 15, 2020, but NBCUniversal has decided to entrust it with a key part of its coverage for the 2021 Summer Games. As a result, events that normally would get top-shelf billing on NBC — including basketball, gymnastics and track & field — are all being broadcast on Peacock instead.
What is Peacock? How can you watch live events using it? Stock Market Pioneer has you covered with everything you need to know about NBCUniversal’s streaming service.
MORE: Watch the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with fuboTV (7-day trial)
What is Peacock?
Peacock is a free streaming platform (with ads) created by NBCUniversal that allows consumers to stream television series, films, news and live sports. Most of the content available on Peacock is owned by NBC, and since NBC is broadcasting the Olympics, the company elected to make certain Olympic events available on the app.
Not only will Peacock broadcast live sports during the Olympics, it will also include original Olympics programming, studio shows, curated playlists, highlights and full event replays from the 2021 Tokyo Games.
How to watch the Olympics on Peacock
Peacock is a streaming service, so it isn’t available on traditional cable. However, the app is supported by a number of Smart TVs, gaming consoles and cable providers, including:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- LG Smart TV
- Playstation 4 and 5
- Roku TV
- Samsung Smart TV
- Vizio TV
- Xbox One
- Cable providers Cox and Xfinity
- Web browsers
Is Peacock free?
Fans of the Olympics can watch Peacock for free (with ads) or pay $4.99 a month for Peacock Premium.
The free version of Peacock will include access to the live coverage and replays of the 2021 Olympics that will be broadcast within the app. While the free version of Peacock includes live coverage of track & field and gymnastics events, It does not include live men’s basketball, which requires a subscription to Peacock Premium to watch.
Is Olympic basketball on TV?
Olympic basketball will be broadcast live on Peacock Premium. All of the U.S. men’s basketball team games, including their upcoming matchups against Iran and the Czech Republic, will be broadcast on the service as well. Peacock Premium will also carry the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the men’s basketball tournament regardless of whether Team USA is eliminated.
Is Olympic gymnastics on TV?
Olympic gymnastics will be broadcast live on Peacock. That will include all of the men’s and women’s team and individual gymnastics finals. So, if you’re hoping to watch Simone Biles in her efforts to lead the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to a gold medal live, you’ll be able to watch it free on Peacock.
Is Olympic track and field on TV?
Olympic track & field will be broadcast live on Peacock. Track & field won’t begin until July 30, but it will round out the rest of Peacock’s coverage of the Olympics with all of the major races, relays and field-event action at the Tokyo Games.
Peacock Olympics schedule
Here is a full TV schedule for every live program that will be broadcast on Peacock during the Olympics.
Saturday, July 24
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Men’s Gymnastics | Qualifying | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Men’s Volleyball | U.S. vs. France | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Sunday, July 25
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Gymnastics | Women’s Qualifying | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Men’s Basketball | U.S. vs. France | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Monday, July 26
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Gymnastics | Men’s Team Final | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Tuesday, July 27
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Gymnastics | Women’s Gymnastics Team Final | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Wednesday, July 28
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Men’s Basketball | U.S. vs. Iran | 12:40 a.m. – 2 a.m. | Peacock |
| Gymnastics | Men’s All Around | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Thursday, July 29
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Gymnastics | Women’s All Around | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Friday, July 30
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Track & Field | Women’s 5000m, Triple Jump Qualifying, Shot Put Qualifying | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Track & Field | Men’s 10000m Final, Mixed 4x400m Relay Round 1 | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Saturday, July 31
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Track & Field | Men’s Long Jump, Women’s 100m, Men’s 100m, more | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Men’s Basketball | U.S. vs. Czech Republic | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Sunday, August 1
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Gymnastics | Event Finals | 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Track & Field | Event Finals & Semifinals | 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Monday, August 2
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Men’s Basketball | Quarterfinal | 12:40 a.m. – 2 a.m. | Peacock |
| Gymnastics | Event Finals | 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Track & Field | Finals, Semifinals & Qualifying | 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Tuesday, August 3
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Gymnastics | Event Finals | 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Track & Field | Finals, Semifinals & Qualifying | 4 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Wednesday, August 4
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Men’s Basketball | Semifinal | 12:15 a.m. – 2 a.m. | Peacock |
| Track & Field | Semifinals & Finals | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Thursday, August 5
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Track & Field | Finals & Semifinals | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
Friday, August 6
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Track & Field | Finals & Semifinals | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |
| Men’s Basketball | Final | 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. | Peacock |
Saturday, August 7
| Sport | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Track & Field | Finals | 6 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Peacock |