The news: NBCUniversal’s Peacock reduced losses to $217 million in Q3 compared with $436 million in 2024, but struggled to boost revenues and attract new subscribers—raising questions about the platform’s advertising value.

• Peacock revenues dropped to $1.4 billion compared with $1.5 billion in the year-ago period, attributed to a revenue boost from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• Subscriber growth was flat compared with Q1 and Q2 at 41 million.
• NBCU’s core advertising revenues, excluding comparisons with the Olympics, increased 2.6% to $1.96 billion.

Why it matters: Flat subscriber growth makes Peacock a less appealing investment for advertisers.

As advertisers consider budget cuts in streaming, the platforms that remain insulated are those that prove they are household names and promise continued growth—something the likes of Netflix have achieved. Peacock’s volatile ad revenues show that it still has a ways to go before being on the same level as its larger rivals.

Peacock’s strategy: Peacock is looking to curb advertiser hesitations through a multifaceted approach.