Consumers may wonder if it is worth the higher price for an ad-free plan. The only way to know for sure is to compare, and Michael Timmermann of Michael Saves did just that. In a recent video, Michael tests the ad load on Peacock to see if it lives up to the service's original promise of limited interruptions.
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In his investigation, Michael Timmermann found that the ad experience on Peacock often mirrors traditional broadcast television more closely than many might expect. For library series, he observed commercials appearing roughly every five minutes, while original series like The 'Burbs averaged six minutes of ads for a 42-minute episode. Movies were slightly less disruptive, though they often required a significant block of commercials -- up to four minutes -- before the film even began. Perhaps most importantly for sports fans, Michael noted that live events remain heavily ad-supported regardless of your subscription tier, as these broadcasts must follow the natural breaks in the game clock where no "time-traveling" feature can skip the wait.
While the Premium Plus plan does eliminate ads for the majority of the on-demand library, the price gap of $6 per month or $60 per year is a significant "convenience tax" for many households. Although a few cents a day doesn't seem like much, it does add up over time. In fact, the $6 monthly difference between the ad-supported and ad-free tiers of Peacock is enough to pay for a separate subscription to Discovery Plus.
This cost-benefit analysis is even more critical given that Peacock is introducing new "Arrival Ads" in 2026, which play a full-screen brand message the moment the app is opened. Since live sports and certain "channels" content will always include commercials, the ad-supported tier remains the most practical value for those who primarily use the service for live events. For the casual viewer, the money saved by opting for the entry-level plan can easily be redirected toward other home media needs or additional streaming services.