philo.com
Since the cord-cutting trend has flourished, viewers have increasingly turned to a plethora of top streaming services in lieu of traditional cable TV, satellite, or streaming services. Some of these platforms, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, offer truly an alternative to cable TV while others, such as Hulu and Philo, can be viewed as add-ons rather than true alternatives.
Philo is a streaming service that offers 43 channels consisting of live and on-demand content. Though they don't create original programming, they provide a decent media watching experience.
Philo does not have the same premium features as Sling TV or YouTube TV, but it does offer a library full of content that can fulfill your entertainment and lifestyle needs.
History
Nicholas Krasney and Tuan Ho founded Philo 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 platform for university students until it finally got launched as a streaming service in November 2017.
Two Harvard graduates, Philo and his wife, gave birth to a son. Since its launch in February, Philo has received backing from major networks such as Viacom, Discovery, and AMC. Their presence and support can be seen in the form of diverse content on the network. Their streaming bundles can be found on Philo for an affordable price tag. The no sports proposition attracted these major conglomerates and they decided to bundle their entertainment and lifestyle channel on Philo.
Design
As for sources, we have documentaries, TV shows and movies.
Similar to most streaming services, Philo has a dark overall 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. As for sources, we have documentaries, TV shows and movies.
Philo's homepage is quite appealing. It has noteworthy shows in its hero section followed by sliders that allow you toside 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 dislike of Fubo TV because of its 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'll get a list of content from all around the world. Thus, I can say that it's not irrelevant.
The user section is divided into two parts: Settings and Accounts. You can use the Settings page to edit your personal information and connect your device. However, the account section doesn't have anything significant.
The Guide Section lets you browse all channels from the past, present and future. Though there are some improvements that can be made, it is overall a helpful tool. The channel lineup is arranged alphabetically horizontally across the top of the screen. If you want to see all of the columns, you will need to scroll a bit. Another area that could use improvement is the lack of a date on the schedule which can be difficult to keep track of the premieres.
Content
I do not think access to 43 channels is bad for the price you are paying. 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.
If you want to upgrade to the premium package, you can pay an additional $4 and gain access to 12 more channels. Some of the channels that are included in the premium package are Big News, PeopleTV, Cheddar, Tastemade and Hallmark. I love that there are no restrictions based on your location with Philo.
Philo's content library does not include any sports channels, which might be a problem for fans of sports. If you are a fan of sports, you should note that there are no channels included in Philo's lineup that include FOX Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC, NBA TV or NFL Network.
All major news networks are missing from the streaming service. BBC and BBC America are the only networks that are available.
Desktop/Mobile experience
Philo's video interface is very clean and crisp. Similar to Hotstar, 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 using your email, Facebook account or your phone number. However, Philo only uses your phone number to login. 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 simplified and hassle-free way to login to your account, it has security loopholes.
Compatibility is not an issue
Philo is compatible with a number of different platforms. You can stream Philo content on both PCs and Macs, as well as various browsers on iOS and Android devices. Philo does not have an app for Android yet, but you can still use Chrome to stream. Philo works on various devices including Roku players, Apple TV, and mobile phones.
App is attractive
Despite Philo's current iOS-only availability, the app's interface is attractive and there are no discrepancies or lag when browsing through 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. Additionally, they also implement two-factor authentication for added security. Thus, even after you sign-in, you need to ask for a Google Voice number or a text message that includes the login code or a token.
Not an Ad-Free Experience
Since Philo offers Live TV content, there are ads. Most of these ads can be skipped, but you will need to watch them for a certain period of time. 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 ads placed in between.
Plans & Pricing
Philo'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. This will allow users to see channels and schedules moving to the side with time across the top. This will make the elements more compact and appealing.
Conclusion
I am a sports lover, so I know 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 subscribe to Philo if it was just for me, but I don't think that would be a good idea. I also don't think that anyone in my family would want to subscribe to Philo if it was just for us, because there are other options out there that are more comprehensive. However, I do believe that Philo is an effective add-on for those who love lifestyle and entertainment content.
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