Notre Dame to develop its take on 'Hard Knocks' for Peacock

The series is set to debut in 2024, which in light of the latest rounds of conference realignment, may perhaps be the most anticipated year in recent college football history.

Peacock, which is owned and operated by Comcast's NBCUniversal, has been a focal point for the parent company since its arrival on the streaming scene in the summer of 2020. Comcast has committed billions of dollars into its growth, willing to lose much of that money per quarter if it attracts more and more subscribers. Sports, of course, are a massive attractant for the platform, with football, soccer and WWE bringing viewers onto Peacock on a regular basis.

The Notre Dame brand - at least in terms of football - doesn't have the same hold it once did, even when it has fielded competitive teams over the last decade. Yet it still has a notable fan base that tunes into each game, whether on linear television or through Comcast's streamer.

The new media deal signed by the two sides on Nov. 18 runs through 2029 and allows Peacock to have exclusive rights to select football games, something the streamer has done once a season since 2021. A streaming docuseries featuring the team is a complement to any airing of Fighting Irish football, regardless of where the games are being watched, but it could make for a unique lead-up to a Peacock exclusive game. 

Additional eyeballs may also come because of NBC's deal with the Big Ten that went into effect in 2023. As Swarbrick told Fischer, the addition of Big Ten rights helped move the chains in the school's talks with NBC, saying, "That was an important part of our decision, the fact that NBC acquired more college football rights. We were on a bit of an island."

This may not mean Ohio State fans are going to fall in love with Notre Dame, but maybe engaging in some hate-watching of the Peacock series could still benefit the Irish.