NBCUniversal's Peacock Launches Short Videos to Compete with TikTok

NBCUniversal announced a major new push for its streaming service Peacock. The company revealed plans to create short videos filmed in vertical format — the kind designed for mobile phones — and will expand its reality TV offerings. The vertical videos will be exclusive to Peacock's mobile app.

Peacock is launching what it calls the first original short-form dramas from a major U.S. streaming service. Two shows are coming first: "Salon Confessionals With Madison LeCroy," featuring a star from the show "Southern Charm," and "Campus Confidential: Miami," with Georgia Gay, whose mother is on "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City."

More Reality TV on Bravo and Peacock

The company is ordering four new reality series for Bravo, NBCUniversal's reality TV channel. The biggest is "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island," which brings the popular franchise to a 15th U.S. city. Bravo is also making a crossover show where cast members from different "Real Housewives" franchises will trade places, plus a new version of "Wife Swap."

The network renewed many existing shows, including "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," "Below Deck Mediterranean," and "Vanderpump Rules." However, "Vanderpump Rules" is getting a completely new cast, marking the end of an era for a show that became famous through drama and relationship changes.

All Bravo shows will stream on Peacock the day after they air on TV. This connects the traditional broadcast channel and the streaming app more closely.

Why Vertical Video Matters

Peacock is trying to compete with platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, which focus on short videos watched on phones. Most streaming services have traditionally shown videos in horizontal format — the way you would watch a TV or sit at a desktop. But people increasingly watch videos on phones in vertical format, which means the phone screen is taller than it is wide.

The question here is whether people will actually watch these short videos inside the Peacock app instead of going to TikTok or YouTube Shorts, where short-form videos are the whole point. Peacock is built primarily for longer shows and movies, so making it work for quick, scrollable content is a real challenge. History suggests that when older media companies try to copy what newer, tech-focused platforms do, the hardest part is convincing audiences to use a new service rather than switching to the platforms where they already spend time.

Other New Shows Coming to Peacock

Beyond Bravo content, Peacock is launching several new original shows. "The Five Star Weekend," starring Jennifer Garner, D'Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, and Chloë Sevigny, premieres in July. The network is also expanding its "Love Island" programming with Ariana Madix returning to host "Love Island Games," plus a new companion show called "Aftersun."

Peacock is adding a true crime documentary called "The Wolves of Real Estate: The Alexander Brothers." True crime shows have become popular on streaming services, and audiences consistently watch and engage with this type of investigative programming.

Looking Ahead to 2026

NBCUniversal is preparing for two major anniversaries in 2026. Both NBC and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will turn 100 years old. The company plans to use these milestones to create special shows and documentaries that celebrate the company's history while giving Peacock subscribers exclusive content.

What This Means for Streaming

The announcements show how streaming services are trying to stand out by focusing on specific types of content and audiences. Peacock is positioning itself as the home for reality TV and Bravo content, which makes it different from other streaming options. The short-form video experiment is worth watching, because it shows that even traditional media companies recognize that people watch videos differently on their phones now — and they are adapting accordingly.

Whether audiences will actually use Peacock to watch short videos instead of going to apps built specifically for that purpose remains unclear. Success will depend on whether the videos are good enough to compete with the endless stream of free content on TikTok and similar platforms.