During NBCUniversal’s annual technology conference, One24, the company revealed a plethora of new features coming to its streaming service Peacock in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympics in July.
The most anticipated feature is multiview, which allows subscribers to watch up to four live streams simultaneously. This groundbreaking feature has been hailed by sports fans as one of the most significant advancements in sports streaming technology in recent years. No longer will fans have to constantly switch between streams to keep up with multiple games.
The company also announced a new interactive “Live Actions” button, giving viewers the power to select which events they want to follow, as well as a new search feature for specific athletes. These additions, along with other new features, are designed to help subscribers navigate the 5,000+ hours of live coverage for the upcoming Summer Olympics.
However, some subscribers have expressed dissatisfaction with Peacock’s past Olympic broadcasts, making it critical for the streamer to provide an exceptional viewing experience this year. During the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Peacock made a questionable decision by revealing some of the winners in the Highlights rail. With this being the first time the service will be broadcasting all Summer Olympic events, the pressure is on for Peacock to get it right.
The fourth quarter of 2023 saw Peacock report 31 million subscribers.
Although other streaming services such as YouTube TV and Apple offer multiview features, Peacock stands out as the only standalone service to offer web support for multiview. While YouTube TV’s multiview is only available on smart TVs and Apple offers a limited version on its Apple TV 4K for select sports content, Peacock’s multiview feature is available on all devices including smart TVs, streaming devices, and tablets.
Furthermore, Peacock offers not just one, but two multiview options. The first, “Discovery Multiview,” provides viewers with a four-screen overview of live events currently happening. The second option, a more traditional multiview experience, allows viewers to select which four matches they want to watch from sports with multiple simultaneous streams, such as soccer, wrestling, and track & field. Both options are customizable, with the ability to switch between audio feeds and move around the screens seamlessly.
Given that up to 40 Olympic events will be happening simultaneously, this unique offering helps viewers narrow down which four events are most important to them. Additionally, the feature will showcase tags and descriptions for each match, providing valuable information such as first-time Olympians, defending champions, and potential elimination risks.
“We want to avoid users having decision paralysis with so many events happening at once,” explains Peacock SVP of Product John Jelley. “[Peacock Discovery Multiview is] the perfect option for fans who want to sit back and let Peacock be their guide to the best of the Olympic Games.”
While multiview is available on all devices except for mobile, Peacock explains that the smaller screen size makes it challenging to navigate between events effectively.
“It ultimately comes down to screen size and our research has shown that multiview on mobile does not provide the best viewing experience,” says Jelley. “For viewers who want to watch on the go, multiview will be available on tablets and all other platforms.”
As for its competitors, YouTube TV has confirmed plans to launch support for iOS devices, but it is expected to be a less advanced version compared to the TV version.
Peacock will begin testing multiview during select events this spring and plans to expand it to other live sporting events after the Olympics. Additionally, Peacock is adding the option for “Live Actions” where viewers can choose to either continue watching live coverage or switch to a whip-around coverage mode. Events can also be added to the “My Stuff” list for later viewing.
The streaming service is also expanding its “Catch Up with Key Plays” feature to include basketball, golf, and soccer. This feature allows fans to watch highlights of a game to quickly catch up without having to exit the main screen. It was initially launched as a feature for Premier League games.
With the Tokyo Olympics and its exciting new features just around the corner, Peacock is ready to provide a top-notch viewing experience for its subscribers. Whether it’s through multiview or the other new additions, Peacock is determined to make the 2024 Paris Olympics an unforgettable event for sports fans across the globe.
