Assessing Broadcast/Cable TV’s Streaming Strategies For Adult Animation: Syfy/NBC Universal (2021)

For the next several weeks, we’re going to analyze broadcast networks and their strategies as it relates to streaming their original adult animation series for the widest possible audiences. With all of this talk about a “BOOM” in the industry, it’s high time we evaluate whether or not the networks are taking this industry seriously or is it all just a bunch of guff for shareholders. This week, we check out NBC Universal’s streaming service Peacock which might have one of the better, albeit sometimes confusing, strategies. 

STRENGTHS

NBC Universal’s launch of streaming service Peacock has to be looked at as a success having already 30 million subscribers! With everyone talking about the “streaming wars” and everyone jockeying for position, that’s pretty impressive. Syfy made a serious play at adult animation with their TZGZ lineup and had some real wins in terms of series including The Pole, The Summoner, Devil May Care, even testing out one-time streaming-exclusive series Gary And His Demons and Dallas and Robo for possible resuscitation.

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WEAKNESSES

Peacock is one of the few streaming services not really giving a shit about adult animation. Yea, they have some legacy stuff, and I’ll never get bored of Code Monkeys, but clearly NBC hasn’t put the same foot forward as say Paramount+, Netflix, or Hulu has in having any sort of a footprint in the industry. Some of that is fear. Some of that is no infrastructure to procure content. Look no further than the status of Syfy’s TZGZ. While Syfy Wire does 50 articles a week about Rick and Morty on rival network Adult Swim, the network itself seldom made a peep any of the original series that were broadcast when it originally landed on Saturday Nights. Even less so when the lineup moved to Wednesdays where it appeared to ultimately die.

They didn’t make a serious play at any sort of marketing, but that all could’ve potentially been buoyed by a sound streaming strategy that for some reason never seemed to marry. Hell, when Peacock took over the WWE Network, even Camp WWE got a second life on Peacock. Syfy? Nothing.

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OPPORTUNITIES

Peacock offers numerous opportunities for NBC Universal to archive and proliferate content in adult animation. It also seems as though that G4 could return which, in itself, can offer a conduit of original adult animation to the streaming service. Clearly, Syfy could’ve been an amazing opportunity, to provide original series….none of this happened. Add in the fact that NBC Universal has Seth MacFarlane under an overall deal to potentially create animation, something we haven’t seen any sign of thus far. Here’s hoping something comes to fruition sooner rather than later.

 

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THREATS

Why NBC continues to think that anybody cares about the Olympics is beyond me. I understand sports on streaming is a big deal, and that’s where they plan to play. But, with sports constantly getting lambasted in the press for waffling on social issues, should that really be a priority? I love the idea of Peacock trying to differentiate itself. NBC’s Seeso had some strong adult animation but the service was shut down. The threat is when the ascent of adult animation really grows up and matures, NBC Universal could be left in the dust.