Philo has added two new channels to its streaming lineup from Weigel Broadcasting, now offering Decades and Start TV.
The new additions are included as part of Philo’s base package, which features more than 60 live channels and 60,000 on-demand offerings from popular general entertainment networks for $25 per month after a free seven-day trial.
Decades Network is a channel that offers classic TV comedy, talk and variety series such as “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Carol Burnett Show.” On weeknights the Decades channel showcases long-running popular series like “Cheers,” “Taxi” and “The Honeymooners,” among others. Weekends meanwhile offer Decades Binge, highlighting two full days of a single TV series spanning genres.
Start TV is dedicated to scripted dramas showcasing female-led shows focused on successful women, such as “The Closer,” “The Good Wife,” “Major Crimes” and “Rizzoli & Isles.”
It marks new content for Philo and the latest distribution partner for Weigel Broadcasting. Virtual MVPD Frndly TV added five Weigel networks (including Start TV) to its lineup under a distribution deal signed in March.
As it continues to add content, at the start of this year Philo signed its first original programming deal. The agreement with digital media company Kin brought new series “Boss Moves” starring Rasheeda Frost to the platform.
Philo is competing in a continually crowded streaming space and earlier this month Philo’s VP of content acquisition Adam Salmons discussed the distribution landscape during a panel session at the StreamTV Show in Denver, where he encouraged distributors to contemplate the value and purpose they’re bringing to customers.
“If your product is not really for them, they can easily go somewhere else and they will,” Salmons said, while also calling out a partnership with T-Mobile that gives eligible subscribers of the carrier $10 off Philo and the benefit of providing a single bill option for customers.
Last summer Philo, which joined the U.S. scene in November 2017 with a skinny streaming linear TV channel bundle, raised its price for new consumers by $5 per month. Along with content, for $25 per month users get unlimited 1-year DVR, three simultaneous device streams and can create up to 10 personalized profiles per account.
Philo’s investors include AMC Networks, A+E, as well as Discovery and Viacom before they completed separate mergers. It counts entertainment and lifestyle channels such as A&E, AMC, BBC America, Discovery Channel, Comedy Central, Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Tastemade among others. It’s also added AccuWeather and news channels Bloomberg TV and Cheddar news.