On Wednesday, Peacock the new NBCUniversal streaming service expanded its reach nationwide. Peacock will offer 13,000 hours on its free tier and 20,000 hours on its subscription level, sourced from a range of networks and studios both inside and outside of NBCU. Nine Peacock Original movies and shows are available at launch, with others following through the end of the year.

According to Deadline,  The Premium tier costs $5 a month, though some distribution partners (and Comcast) are bundling it at no extra cost to customers, at least on an extended-trial basis. Regardless of the price they pay for Premium, subscribers can also pay $5 more per month to get an ad-free version of Peacock.

Both free and Premium tiers will feature current NBC shows — on the free level, they will be available a week after linear air, and on Premium they’ll be there the next day.   Days of our Lives new episodes will be offered up on the streaming service one day after they air in their normal timeslot on NBC

NBC shows offered the day after their linear premieres along with Days of our Lives are: America’s Got Talent, Blindspot, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, A Little Late with Lilly Singh, Saturday Night Live, Superstore, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, New Amsterdam, Manifest, The Titan Games, Hollywood Game Night, World of Dance, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Access Hollywood, Dateline, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press, and Telemundo series including 100 Días Para Enamorarnos, Celia, Cennet, Enemigo Intimo, La Doña, Minuto Para Ganar and Noticias Telemundo

Along with Comcast’s X1 and Flex, Peacock will be available on Apple and Google platforms, Microsoft’s Xbox, Vizio and LG smart TVs, Cox Contour and, starting next week, Sony PlayStation.

So, might you check out the new Peacock streaming platform? Comment below.

On the heels of the departures of Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews as hosts of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, comes word of just who the new host will be!

That gig is going to none other than former America’s Top Model host. Tyra Banks, who will also serve as the ballroom-dance competition’s executive producer for its upcoming 29th season set to air later this fall.

DWTS is watching very closely the coronavirus pandemic of just how and when they can begin production and how the show will look.

With the pick of Banks to helm the show,  ABC said that the team is planning to refresh the format, while “honoring the show America loves”.  DWTS is produced by BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm, alongside Andrew Llinares.

The next two Daytime Emmy ceremonies to be given out virtually this year have announced their hosts.  The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today revealed that Jai Rodriguez, producer and actor best known for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy will host the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony honoring Digital Dramas.  That event will be live-streamed this coming Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

In addition, The Real’s Loni Love  will host the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony for Children’s, Lifestyle & Animation programming.  That event will be live-streamed Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Photo: NATAS

In a statement, Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS shared: “The far-reaching consequences of the global pandemic have challenged our industry and our community in ways never before imagined, These unprecedented circumstances demanded new and exciting ways to recognize the great talents creating Daytime television. Building on the success of our Daytime Emmys telecast on CBS, we continue to applaud and acknowledge the contributions of our diverse field of incredible nominees.”

NATAS also announced today more dates for their annual awards –  the 41st Sports Emmy Awards will live-stream on Tuesday, August 11th, at 8 p.m. EDT.  Meanwhile,The 41st News & Documentary Emmy Awards will stream in mid-to-late September, followed by the 71st Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards in mid-to-late October.

Two dedicated specials will also debut in the fall of 2020: one recognizing Lifetime Achievement honorees in Daytime, Sports, News & Documentary and Technology & Engineering programming, and the other recognizing Spanish-Language nominees across the genres.

All events will be viewable on desktop, mobile, and smart TV platforms via  TheEmmys.tv.

So what do you think of the choice of hosts for the Digital Drama Daytime Emmys this Sunday, and the Children’s, Lifestyle & Animation programming edition the following weekend? Comment below.