Peacock Loses Subscribers After Dropping ‘Real Housewives’

Peacock recently faced backlash from fans after unexpectedly removing multiple episodes of popular “Real Housewives” franchises. Viewers who logged in to enjoy their favorite shows were met with frustration when they found that these episodes had vanished without any explanation. This incident led to a wave of displeasure among the subscribers, compelling them to reconsider their loyalty to the streaming service.

Previously, Peacock had encountered some issues that had already caused subscribers to question their commitment to the platform. A few months back, viewers found that “Real Housewives” episodes were being narrated in a different language. Although this glitch was swiftly rectified, the annoyance lingered. Additionally, the announcement of a price increase due to the 2024 Olympic Games further fueled uncertainty among subscribers. The cost of the ad-supported plan, which had consistently been under six dollars before taxes, went up by about two dollars. While not a substantial hike, it was enough to make some users contemplate if the extra expense was worth it.

Now, Peacock is grappling with another significant problem. According to reports from The Sun, seasons and episodes from “The Real Housewives of New York City” (RHONY) and “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (RHOBH) disappeared from the platform. Specifically, Season 5 of RHONY and the last two seasons of RHOBH went missing without any prior notice. This move infuriated fans, particularly as the rebooted version of RHONY is set to return for Season 15 on October 1st, and many viewers were revisiting earlier seasons to catch up. The unexpected removal of content prompted subscribers to demand explanations and even threaten to cancel their subscriptions.

The anger and frustration were palpable across social media platforms, with fans expressing their dissatisfaction openly. Some of the reactions included:

• “No excuse me, tell me why I was balls deep in season 5 of RHONY last night and today I find that @peacock has throttled old episodes with no warning and I can no longer watch.”
• “I’ll cancel this s**t lol I only even keep it for the housewives.”
• “Congrats on pissing off an entire fan base @peacock by removing almost all of RHONY.”
• “Why did @peacock delete half the RHONY episodes what the f**k.”

The subscriber outcry was immediate and intense, prompting Peacock to take swift action. The company acknowledged that they were working on addressing the issue. Not long after, subscribers began to notice that the missing episodes and seasons had started to reappear on the platform. One relieved viewer confirmed:

• “Episodes have started reappearing for me – must be a glitch!”

Other subscribers quickly checked and shared their relief:

• “It’s working again for RHONY.”
• “Mine is back!!”

It seems that Peacock recognized the potential financial impact of this content mishap and moved swiftly to rectify it, aiming to prevent the loss of subscribers and revenue. The prompt action reassured many fans and likely prevented a significant exodus from the platform. Still, the incident highlights the fragile nature of customer loyalty in the highly competitive streaming market. Have you experienced any missing “Housewives” episodes? Have you thought about canceling Peacock over such issues?

Source: The Sun