Bel-Air is officially Peacock’s most-streamed original series

We don’t get to talk about successes on Peacock too much in terms of their original series because they just haven’t gotten the pop culture reach as shows featured on the other big streamers but it appears they have FINALLY earned bragging rights with their new drama Bel-Air. The dramatic reimagining of the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has officially become the platform’s most-streamed original series.

Per Deadline, Bel-Air has reached 8 million accounts to date and it has broken Peacock’s records for new subscribers, usage, and upgrades. Peacock has a relatively modest U.S.-only reach and it counts 28 million monthly accounts and 13 million paid subscribers. It’s a platform that is still growing, albeit slowly, but this has to be considered a win for them. Peacock has never had a show reach the Nielsen Top 10 weekly streaming rankings and even though Bel-Air didn’t reach that feat, its numbers indicate that they have a show that FINALLY broke down that pop culture wall.

Bel-Air was picked up with a two-season order and quickly became Peacock’s most heavily promoted original series. The show ran a TV spot during the Super Bowl on February 13 and the show premiered with three episodes on Super Bowl Sunday, with new episodes released subsequently weekly on Thursdays. Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television, and Streaming, had this to say about the success of the show:

“We’re elated at the positive response to Bel-Air and that this passionate audience quickly solidified the series into the cultural zeitgeist. Week after week Bel-Air captivated audiences with buzzy cliffhangers and stunning ensemble performances, led by the unmatched Jabari Banks. We can’t wait for what’s in store for season two.

It’s believed that Bel-Air is the third biggest title on Peacock and their biggest original series. Ahead of Bel-Air on the streamer are off-network hits Yellowstone and The Office. As for season two of Bel-Air, Anthony Sparks is joining the upcoming second season as an executive producer. He’ll be working alongside executive producers/co-showrunners TJ Brady and Rasheed Newson. Despite the controversy from the slap at the Oscars, Will Smith will also remain on as an executive producer.

Bel-Air was inspired by Morgan Cooper’s viral trailer that put a dramatic spin on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air concept. The show “explores Will’s complex journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air through a current lens.” The series stars Jabari Banks as Will, Adrian Holmes as Phillip Banks, Cassandra Freeman as Vivian Banks, Olly Sholotan as Carlton Banks, Coco Jones as Hilary Banks, Akira Akbar as Ashley Banks, Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey, Jordan L. Jones as Jazz and Simone Joy Jones as Lisa.

Have YOU been watching Bel-Air? Season two is expected to premiere in 2023.