Everyone in college has been there: it’s 11 p.m., the reading list is still unread, and the question of what to watch seems more important than anything on the syllabus. Ten years ago, streaming would have seemed strange as an important part of college life. And the bills that go with it? Not as funny.
That’s one reason why the Peacock student discount is important to know about. Peacock is currently giving eligible students (18 and up) access to its streaming service for only $1.99 a month, which is $5.99 a month normally. That’s a 67% discount that lasts for a year and is renewed every year as long as the student stays enrolled. It’s not a test. It’s not a trap with small print that’s three pages deep. This is a simple price cut for a group of people who really need it.
There is a big difference between how much students spend and how much money they actually have. This is well known and, to be honest, not very surprising to anyone who has lived it. There are a lot of subscriptions. You won’t even blink when you see how much $50 or $60 a month gets you for music, video, and cloud storage. That is why it is a big deal when a platform cuts its price by two-thirds for a whole year. It gives students $48 back every year, which can cover a few textbooks or a good number of meals in the dining hall.
Some people have the wrong idea about what Peacock has to offer in terms of content. The platform has new movies in theaters, a growing library of Peacock Originals, and new shows from NBC and Bravo. It also has Peacock Channels, a streaming format that works 24 hours a day, seven days a week and feels more like regular TV because it lets you watch movies, clips, and shows without having to make a choice every time you sit down. That almost makes me feel better, especially in the evenings after a long day of schoolwork when I’m tired of making choices.
Peacock may be most different from what students might expect when it comes to sports. On the platform, you can watch Sunday Night Football, Premier League games, and, more recently, Big Ten college football. That last one is more important than it looks. People watch a lot of college football, and the Big Ten is one of the most popular conferences. Being able to watch live games for less than a coffee is a big change. It is well known that sports streaming rights are hard to find and cost a lot of money. Peacock is beginning to put some of that in one place.
The practical details also hold up pretty well. Subscribers can watch on up to three devices at the same time, and each account can have up to six separate profiles. For a student who lives with roommates in a dorm suite or an apartment off campus, that means it works in real life, not just in theory.
It’s still not clear how long these prices will stay the same or whether Peacock will change or add to the offer over time. The economics of streaming are always changing, and when a platform changes its strategy, student deals can go away without a trace. Right now, it’s clear that the deal exists and that the savings are real. If you’re a student who already spends money on fun things, you should check it out before your next study break.
