How Does Discovery+ Stack Up Against Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Disney+

Discovery (DISCA) will roll out its own streaming service on Jan. 4 in the U.S., pitting up against a number of content streaming heavyweights already in the space.

The discovery+ service at launch will cost $4.99 per month with ads and $6.99 per month without ads. It will also allow for up to five user-profiles and up to four concurrent streams. The service can also be used on connected TVs, the web, mobile devices, and tablets.

Compared to other plans, it is in line with NBCUniversal’s Peacock premium plan with ads that also costs $4.99 a month. Peacock’s plan without ads costs more at $9.99 per month while Disney+ costs $6.99 per month without ads.

Compared to the heavyweights Netflix and Hulu, discovery+ comes in well under as Netflix costs ranges from $8.99 to $17.99 a month while Hulu charges a month price of $5.99 ads and $11.99 a month without ads. HBO Max also costs $14.99 a month.

According to Discovery, discovery+ will have one of the largest content offerings of any new streaming service with 55,000 episodes from 2,500 shows from its portfolio of networks that include HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet.

Content will also be provided from personalities such as Chip and Joanna Gaines, Will Packer and Kevin Hart, “90 Day Fiance,” Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, Duff Goldman, Amy Schumer, Carla Hall, David Schwimmer, Sir David Attenborough, Ben Napier, Sebastian Maniscalco, Joe Kenda, Mike Rowe and others.

Discovery has already begun rolling out discovery+ globally in the U.K., Ireland, and India with plans to cover 25 countries.

"We have been working methodically the past two years to bring all of our strategic advantages to the launch of discovery+, including distribution and advertising partnerships around the world, a world-class offering of quality brands, authentic personalities and the largest content library at launch, as well as a broad slate of exclusive programming,” David Zaslav, president and CEO at Discovery, said in a statement.

“With discovery+, we are seizing the global opportunity to be the world's definitive product for unscripted storytelling, providing households and mobile consumers a distinct, clear and differentiated offering across valuable and enduring lifestyle, and real-life verticals,” he added.

Discovery has also partnered up with Verizon to offer 12 months of discovery+ for free with Play More or Get More Unlimited plans and six months of discovery+ with Start or Do More Unlimited plans.

In addition, new Verizon customers that sign up for 5G Home Internet or Fios Gigabit Connection with receive 12 months of discovery+ for free, while new Fios customers may be eligible for three to six months depending on their plans.

Shares of Discovery were trading at $27.86 as of Wednesday at 1:57 p.m. ET, a gain of 19 cents, or 0.67%.