Philo
Low-cost live TV streaming platform with CTV advertising inventory.
Available information varies by company and source.
Profile record updated:
Company facts
- Entity type
- COMPANY
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- 225 Green St, San Francisco, California 94111, US
- Company size
- 50–200
- Market role
- Publisher & Media Owner
- Official website
- philo.com
What Philo does
Philo operates a hybrid media business. On the consumer side, it sells recurring subscriptions for access to live linear channels, on-demand programming and premium add-ons. On the advertising side, it monetises viewer attention by selling video inventory across its streaming environment to advertisers and agencies, directly and via selected addressable TV partnerships. Value is created by aggregating entertainment content into an affordable bundle, attracting viewing hours on CTV, and converting that audience into both subscriber revenue and advertising yield.
Category differentiation
This is the US live TV streaming company, not a philosophy brand, educational service or generic video app. It is primarily a streaming media platform and media owner, not an independent adtech software vendor.
Strategic context
AI-supported assessment from the existing company research; distinguish interpretation from sourced facts.
Philo is a US-based subscription video streaming company offering a lower-cost bundle of live TV channels and on-demand programming across connected TVs, mobile devices and the web. Its core consumer product targets cord-cutters who want entertainment-focused pay TV without the higher price of larger live TV bundles. The service includes features such as cloud DVR and multi-device access. Beyond consumer subscriptions, Philo also monetises its audience through direct advertising sales. Its advertising business sells connected TV inventory to brands and agencies and extends reach through addressable TV partnerships, making Philo both a streaming distributor and a media owner with a CTV monetisation function.
Company news briefing
Briefing updated:
Philo has enhanced its content integration by enabling 'Bundle+’ subscribers to stream discovery+ programming directly within the unified Philo app without requiring a separate sign-in. Additionally, the platform introduced a discovery+ Ad-Free upgrade option priced at $8 per month via Philo.com. Philo continues to expand its media footprint, recently featuring as the exclusive streaming home for press mentions such as Page Six's Virtual Reali-Tea Awards.
Business model & monetisation
Philo primarily monetises through monthly subscription fees for its live TV and on-demand service, supplemented by premium bundle upgrades and channel add-ons. It also generates advertising revenue by selling CTV video inventory to brands and agencies, likely on a CPM basis, including inventory packaged through addressable TV partnerships. This creates a mixed model of consumer recurring revenue plus media sales.
- Consumer base subscriptions
- Content Subscription
- CTV advertising sales
- Ad-Supported
- Premium add-ons and bundle upgrades
- Content Subscription
Products & capabilities
No products with linked sources are available in this view.
Products & market categories
Media Channel
Technology
Ad Format
Recent recorded signals
Dates refer to the source publication. Older entries are historical context, not evidence of a new event.
Philo in the News - Philo Press
Recorded impact score: 3/5
The page lists recent press mentions, including Page Six's Virtual Reali-Tea Awards streaming exclusively on Philo, and other coverage from The Hollywood Reporter, Parade, and more.
Philo vs Frndly TV: Best Budget Live TV 2026
Connected TV (CTV) & OTT · Recorded impact score: 2/5
This Cord Cutters News article (by Jess Barnes, published August 22, 2026) compares two budget live TV streaming services: Philo and Frndly TV. It summarizes available plans and pricing for each service (Philo: Free tier, Essential $25/month, Bundle+ $33/month with add-on services; Frndly: Basic $8.99, Classic $10.99, Premium $12.99), channel counts and examples, DVR and streaming quality differences, and device compatibility. The piece lists channel lineups side-by-side and notes both services support major devices including iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast. The article includes affiliate disclosures and links.
- Philo offers a Free streaming lineup, an Essential plan at $25/month, and a Bundle+ plan at $33/month.
- Philo’s Essential plan includes 70+ live TV channels, 150+ free streaming channels, 80,000+ movies and shows on demand, and unlimited DVR with one-year storage.
No App Switching Necessary: Bundle+ Subscribers Can Now Stream discovery+’s Library Directly in the Philo App
Recorded impact score: 4/5
Starting now, Bundle+ subscribers can browse and stream discovery+ programming directly inside the Philo app, no separate sign-in or second app required. We’re also introducing a discovery+ Ad-Free upgrade for $8/month, available through Philo.com, for anyone who wants to watch without interruption.
USPI Adds Popularity Score; Owning Content Wins
CTV · Recorded impact score: 2/5
State of Streaming updated its Unified Streaming Power Index (USPI) in August by adding a new Popularity Score vector, developed with Reelgood, that ranks streaming services by consumer interest across their full catalogs. The Popularity Score averages how often a service's titles appear in the national Top 100 each day over a month, creating a forward-looking index aimed at projecting where audience attention is headed. The USPI separates services into 'owners' (catalog-first platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max) and 'renters' (wrappers/resellers like Philo, Fubo, Roku Premium) to signal stability risks tied to content ownership. The August edition argues that services reselling third-party content can post strong short-term numbers but are vulnerable to carriage changes, while owners show more durable demand signals.
- The Unified Streaming Power Index (USPI) added a new Popularity Score metric for August.
- The Popularity Score was built in partnership with Reelgood and averages daily Top 100 presence per title over a month.
MeTV Reveals Fall Programming Lineup at Comic-Con
TV (linear) · Recorded impact score: 1/5
At San Diego Comic-Con, MeTV announced its fall programming slate led by a month-long Wizard of Oz event. The network will present the broadcast premiere of The Wizard of Oz hosted by Lisa Whelchel, plus original behind-the-scenes vignettes titled “The Wonderful World of Oz.” A special Collector’s Call episode will feature Oz collector Tori Calamito, and an episode of Svengoolie will highlight the film as part of MeTV’s BOO-nanza festivities. Regular schedule notes include Collector’s Call on Sundays at 6:30 PM ET/PT, Svengoolie on Saturdays from 8–10:30 PM ET/PT, and select House of Svengoolie airings. MeTV says its Halloween BOO-nanza returns in October 2026, and the channel is available over-the-air nationwide and via streaming services Frndly TV, Philo, Fubo, and Sling TV.
- MeTV announced its fall programming lineup at San Diego Comic-Con on 2026-07-27.
- MeTV will run a month-long Wizard of Oz event beginning with Lisa Whelchel hosting the network’s broadcast premiere of The Wizard of Oz.
Explore company relationships
Questions about Philo
What is Philo?
Philo is a US subscription streaming service offering live TV channels, on-demand programming and cloud DVR, with a related CTV advertising sales business.
Who uses Philo?
Consumers use it as a lower-cost cable alternative, while advertisers and agencies use its CTV inventory through Philo Advertising.
How does Philo make money?
It earns revenue from monthly subscriptions, premium add-ons and direct sales of connected TV advertising inventory.
Sources & coverage
This profile uses public, official and technically observable information. Missing information does not prove that a product or relationship does not exist. The list below does not imply that every profile statement has been verified.
15 publicly documented primary sources and citations linked across the market graph.
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