Peacock's 2026 Price Increase: Is It Worth It for the MLB Playoffs?
Peacock costs more now, and many subscribers are seeing the higher bill right as baseball's postseason starts on the service. Peacock raised prices on every plan. Premium is now $12.99 a month and Premium Plus is $19.99. The new prices started August 18, 2026 for new and returning customers, and existing subscribers pay them starting with their first bill on or after September 17.
That timing matters for baseball fans because the MLB Wild Card round streams on Peacock this week, and two of the four series air on NBCSN, which DIRECTV doesn't carry. Here are the new prices and a straight answer on whether Peacock is worth it for the playoffs.
New Peacock prices for 2026
| Plan | Old price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Peacock Select (no live sports) | $7.99/mo. or $79.99/yr. | $8.99/mo. or $89.99/yr. |
| Peacock Premium (with ads) | $10.99/mo. or $109.99/yr. | $12.99/mo. or $129.99/yr. |
| Peacock Premium Plus | $16.99/mo. or $169.99/yr. | $19.99/mo. or $199.99/yr. |
If you pay annually or you're on a promotional offer, you keep your current price until that plan or promotion ends. It then renews at the new price. The Apple TV and Peacock bundles went up too: $17.99 a month with Premium and $22.99 with Premium Plus for new customers since September 1. Existing bundle subscribers pay the new price starting with their first bill on or after October 1. This is Peacock's fourth price increase in four years.
Why Peacock matters for the Wild Card round
The 2026 Wild Card Series runs September 29 through October 1. This year every Wild Card game is on NBC Sports platforms, and all four series stream on Peacock:
- Phillies at Braves: NBC and Peacock
- Red Sox at Yankees: NBC and Peacock
- White Sox at Astros: Peacock and NBCSN
- Cubs at Padres: Peacock and NBCSN
Game 2s are today, Wednesday, September 30 (all times ET): Phillies-Braves at 2 p.m., White Sox-Astros at 5 p.m., Red Sox-Yankees at 8 p.m. and Cubs-Padres at 10 p.m. Any Game 3s are Thursday, October 1, with times set by how many series are still going. In Game 1, the Braves, White Sox, Yankees and Padres all won.
The NBCSN problem for DIRECTV customers
NBC Sports Network is available on YouTube TV, Fubo and Xfinity. It isn't in DIRECTV's lineup. So the White Sox-Astros and Cubs-Padres games aren't on any DIRECTV channel. Peacock is the fallback: both of those series stream there. The NBC games are covered, since DIRECTV carries your local NBC station where available. For more, see what channel NBCSN is on DIRECTV and our full guide to watching the MLB Wild Card round on DIRECTV.
After the Wild Card round, you won't need Peacock for baseball
Peacock's postseason role ends after the Wild Card Series. The rest of October moves to channels DIRECTV already carries:
- AL Division Series and ALCS: TBS (DIRECTV channel 247), truTV and HBO Max
- NL Division Series and NLCS: FOX, FS1 (DIRECTV channel 219) and FOX Deportes
- World Series: FOX, starting Friday, October 23
The Division Series start Saturday, October 3. Want to make sure your DIRECTV package includes the channels for your team's next round? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
So, is Peacock worth it for the MLB playoffs?
- Your team is White Sox, Astros, Cubs or Padres, and you have DIRECTV: yes, for this week. Peacock is the only way to stream those NBCSN games without switching TV services.
- You follow the Phillies, Braves, Red Sox or Yankees: you may not need it. Those games are on NBC, which comes with DIRECTV where local channels are available.
- You want every Wild Card game: Peacock is the one place that streams all four series.
- Premium or Premium Plus? For baseball, Premium at $12.99 is enough. Premium Plus adds fewer ads on most on-demand shows, downloads and a live feed of your local NBC station, but you already get NBC through DIRECTV. Skip Select, which doesn't include live sports.
Peacock may be worth keeping after baseball, too. It streams Sunday Night Football, NBA games, Premier League soccer and Big Ten football. If you only want the Wild Card games, you can cancel from the Subscriptions tab in your Peacock account.
Can you add Peacock through DIRECTV?
Yes. Eligible DIRECTV customers can add Peacock Premium through their DIRECTV account, and DIRECTV's Movies Extra Pack includes Peacock Premium. If you already have a separate Peacock subscription, Peacock says to cancel it and wait for it to expire before adding Peacock through DIRECTV, so you aren't billed twice.
Your options for the NBCSN Wild Card games
| Option | Cost | Gets the NBCSN games? |
|---|---|---|
| Peacock Premium | $12.99/mo. | Yes, streams all four Wild Card series |
| Peacock Premium Plus | $19.99/mo. | Yes, plus live local NBC |
| Peacock Select | $8.99/mo. | No live sports |
| DIRECTV alone | Your package price | NBC games only; NBCSN isn't carried |
Planning next season already? Out-of-market fans can look at MLB Extra Innings on DIRECTV. Compare packages at your address at DIRECTV options near you or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Peacock now?
Peacock Premium is $12.99 a month ($129.99 a year), Premium Plus is $19.99 a month ($199.99 a year) and Select is $8.99 a month ($89.99 a year).
When does the Peacock price increase hit existing subscribers?
On your first billing date on or after September 17, 2026. Annual plans and promotions keep their price until they end.
Is NBCSN on DIRECTV?
No. NBCSN is available on YouTube TV, Fubo and Xfinity. DIRECTV customers can stream the NBCSN Wild Card games on Peacock.
Do I need Peacock for the rest of the MLB playoffs?
No. After the Wild Card round, games move to TBS, truTV, FOX and FS1, and the World Series is on FOX.
Baseball questions? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed September 30, 2026. Prices are Peacock's U.S. prices before taxes and may change. Game 3 times and networks depend on series results. Channel numbers and carriage may change. Peacock, NBCSN, MLB, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.