NBCUniversal is also adding a streaming service. Will ‘Friends’ be included?

Jan 17, 2019

By Herb Scribner

WASHINGTON — NBCUniversal will soon have its own streaming service.

NBCUniversal will reportedly launch its own streaming service in 2020, CNBC reports.

The service, which will be supported by ads, will be free to all NBC pay TV subscribers in the United States. Anyone with Comcast Cable or Sky will receive the channel, too.

However: Those without those options will be asked to pay $12.99 per month to have access to the service. This allows those without cable or satellite to sign up.

The service will give viewers access to a number of NBC programs, much in the same way CBS fans receive shows on CBS All Access.

“NBCUniversal will continue to license content to other studios and platforms, while retaining rights to certain titles for its new service,” according to a press release.

However: As The Verge points out, the service can only air shows that NBCUniversal owns. The rights to some NBC shows — like “Friends” and “ER” — are currently owned by Warner Bros, which means they can appear on other apps.

Others: NBCUniversal will drop its streaming service as others pop up throughout the realm of internet streaming.

IMDB launched Freedive, a collection of free, ad-supported videos that you can watch on mobile, desktop or Amazon Fire TV products, Business Wire reported.

WarnerMedia announced plans to start a streaming service at the end of 2018, which I wrote about for the Deseret News. The service is set to rival Amazon.

And then there’s Disney, which plans to launch Disney Plus this year.

ESPN already launched its streaming service, called ESPN Plus, in 2018.