Almost a year after launch, NBCU’s Peacock arrives on Amazon Fire

NBCUniversal’s Peacock streamer is coming to Amazon Fire devices almost a year after its initial launch.

The app will launch on Fire TV and Fire tablet devices in the US on June 24, the companies have announced. While the app is being launched now with some voice support, the companies said that further Alexa support – such as the ability to search for content via a paired Amazon Echo device – will be added later this year. 

The deal bringing Peacock to Amazon devices is a part of a distribution agreement which also brings NBCU’s 15 network apps to the OS including NBC Sports, Telemundo and Bravo.

Despite launching in mid-2020, Amazon and NBCU had been locked in an apparent impasse over terms of the distribution including access to Peacock’s ad inventory. This was a similar issue between NBCU and Roku, however that was resolved some three months after launch.

Launching on Amazon’s devices should serve as a boost to NBCUniversal, which has revealed the extent of its Tokyo 2020 Olympics coverage. In a move which may be controversial for traditional linear viewers, anticipated events such as gymnastics, US Men’s basketball, and track and field sports will only be available on Peacock. Some sports, such as US Men’s basketball, will require a premium subscription.

Announcing its broadcast plans, NBCU Jeff Shell told reporters at a news conference: “The whole world is coming off of global trauma, and the Olympics is when everybody forgets all that and comes together to celebrate what we just saw up on the screen.”