philo.com

The trend of cord-cutting has led viewers to switch to a plethora of top streaming services. These platforms are preferred over paying $70-80 for a single Cable TV, Satellite or streaming network. Some services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu+, offer an alternative to traditional cable TV while others, such as Philo, can be added on as an add-on. Philo is an online streaming service that offers 43 channels of live and on-demand content. The service does not create original content, but it provides a decent media watching experience.

Although Philo doesn't have the premium features of Sling TV or YouTube TV, it does boast a library of content that can beused to fulfill one's entertainment and lifestyle needs.

History

Philo is an over-the-top cable television service that was founded by Nicholas Krasney and Tuan Ho in 2009. The name Philo has been inspired by Philo T. Farnsworth - the man who invented television in 1930. In its initial days, Philo mainly functioned as a local platform for university students until it finally got launched as a streaming service in November 2017. Two Harvard graduates, who are known for their intelligence and acumen in the entertainment industry, created Philo. This network has received major backing from networks such as Viacom, Discovery, and AMC. Their presence and support has helped to create a diverse mix of content on Philo. In addition to streaming bundles that can be purchased at an affordable price, Philo offers a no sports proposition which has attracted major conglomerates. They have decided to bundle their entertainment and lifestyle channel with Philo.

Design

Philo is available on Xbox One and Apple TV. Similar to most streaming services, Philo has an overall dark design with blue, dark gray and white elements. We've seen the use of blue and red colors in the majority of the streaming website. At the top, there are four items in the header: Home, Live, Guide and Saved. These are accompanied by a search bar and user section which can be accessed from the right-hand side. You can also see a gift icon which is nothing but a referral program. Philo is available on Xbox One and Apple TV. Philo's homepage is appealing, to put it mildly. It has noteworthy shows in its hero section followed by sliders that allow you to side scroll different shows. You can even browse through the categories by scrolling below. The content on the homepage is well segregated: you can find shows under headings such as Saved or Trending Series. The progress button on each video is a great way to keep up with the shows you're watching; this tiny feature helps you to start where you left off.

I expressed my distaste for Fubo TV because of its very poor search tool. However, that's not the case with Philo. You can search names of Episodes, Shows, Movies and even Channels. By typing in a simple query, you will get a list of content from all around the world. Thus, I can say that it is not irrelevant.

The user section is divided into two parts - Settings and Accounts. Through the Settings page, you can personalize your information and connect your device. However, the account section lacks significant content.

You can use the Guide Section to browse all channels from the past, present and future. There is room for improvement in this section, but it still does a decent job. The channel lineup in the guide is set up alphabetically across the top of the screen. If you want to see all the columns, you need to scroll a bit. Another aspect that doesn't please me is the lack of a date on the schedule which makes it difficult to keep track of premieres.

Content

Philo does not offer world-class content, but for the price you're paying, I don't think 43 channels are bad. Some of the channels which are available on Philo include Animal Planet, AMC, Comedy Central, BBC America, Food Network, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and HGTV. Additional channels such as Big News, PeopleTV, Cheddar, Tastemade, and Hallmark are available if you want to upgrade. If you pay an additional $4, you will gain access to 12 more channels. What I love most about Philo's content is that there are no restrictions based upon your location.

Philo does not have any sports content in its lineup - a bucket very popular withfuboTV lovers. Thus, if you are a sports lover, you should know that you will not have access to any of the sports channels which include FOX Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC, NBA TV, and NFL Network.

Similar is the case with news content. You have access to BBC and BBC America, but all major news networks such as CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and PBS are missing.

Desktop/Mobile experience

Philo's video interface is clean and crisp. When you launch a live stream, you have the option to either start from the beginning or click on a live broadcast for a real-time stream. If you want to watch a specific part, you can only choose a point between and that's after you reach the point via normal playback. The Start Over and Live Button on either side of the screen are handy options.

Login in seamless

Most streaming services allow you to log in via your email, Facebook account, or phone number. However, Philo just uses your phone number to log-in. Even when you want to log-in after registering, you can only use your phone number. You get a six-digit OTP which you can use to get access to the website. Though this is a simplistic and hassle-free way to login to your account, it has some security loopholes.

Compatibility is not an issue

Philo is compatible with a variety of platforms, from personal computers to mobile devices. You can stream content from these devices using various browsers, as well as the dedicated Philo app for iOS and Android. Philo does not yet have an app for Roku players, Apple TV, or Android phones; however, you can use Chrome to stream content.

App is attractive

Despite Philo's app only being available on iOS thus far, it has an attractive interface. Similar to the website, it has a dark background complemented with white and blue elements. There are no discrepancies or lag when browsing through the sections. Navigation is very fluid and moving around the website is not much of a task.

Not the best login security

Most streaming networks require you to sign in with a username and password. In addition, they also implement two-factor authentication, meaning you need to provide both a username and password before being able to access the account. Even after you sign in, you will need to request a Google Voice number or a text message that includes the login code or a token in order to continue watching your streaming content.

Not an Ad-Free Experience

Since Philo offers live TV content, it does come with an advertisement. Though most of these advertisements are skippable, you will need to watch them for a certain period. For instance, I added the action movie, 'Fury,' whose actual runtime is 2 hours 14 minutes. However, when I checked the playback bar, the runtime was extended to 3 hours and 3 minutes. So, by the time I finished watching the movie, I had to skip nearly 50 minutes of advertisements placed in between.

Plans & Pricing

Philo TV's basic plan starts at $16/month, which offers up to 40 channels. If you add $4 and opt for a $20 plan, you can get up to 55 channels.

Suggestions I have for Philo

Philo can improve its guide section by adding the back and forth button, listing channels and schedules moving to the side with time across the top, which will make the elements more compact and appealing.

Conclusion

Being a sports lover, I can say that Philo isn't the most obvious choice for me. However, my sister loves the entertainment and lifestyle channels on Philo, especially the cooking ones. I would not subscribe to Philo if it was just for me. I would not recommend you do it if someone in your family loves lifestyle and entertainment content. I'd like to conclude by saying that Philo is not a comprehensive cord-cutting option but an effective add-on.