DALLAS—As cord cutting continues and pay TV operators look to find ways to hang onto existing subscribers, Parks Associates has released a new survey that highlights the top reasons for keeping a pay TV service.

The white paper, “Unified Streaming: Unlocking Next-Gen Advertising”, developed in partnership with Philo found having access to live programming was one important factor, with 44% saying they wanted access to live news and programming and 39% reporting that they wanted live sports.

Another important factor was the advantages of having a unified video platform that bundles services and aggregates programming. About 38% cited the fact that they bundled video packages with internet access; 33% of pay-TV subscribers say they keep pay TV services because they can find more of the content they want all in one place.

The shift in consumer sentiment towards appreciating the value of bundles and aggregated content is somewhat ironic given the fact that bloated costly programming packages and bundles were one of the early factors driving cord cutting.

"Aggregation is now a strategic advantage," said Elizabeth Parks, president and CMO, Parks Associates. "Unified platforms simplify discovery, deepen engagement, and provide advertisers with more consistent measurement and targeting capabilities. A key finding of our research shows the strength of streaming TV (vMVPD) audiences as a foundation for next-generation advertising."

Other key findings include:

• The average US internet household subscribes to 5.3 streaming services, contributing to growing complexity and "decision fatigue."
• More than 300 streaming services exist in the US market, reinforcing fragmentation challenges.
• Streaming TV is the anchor for the unified video platform, and its users are far more likely to engage with interactive ad formats, creating new opportunities in advertising innovation:
• 55% of streaming TV subscribers are interested in clicking on items in content for more information vs. 31% of non-vMVPD subscribers.
• 51% are interested in clicking on items in ads vs. 27% of non-users.
• 49% are interested in shopping for special merchandise/memorabilia related to a show or sporting event vs. 23% of non-users.

"vMVPD subscribers, like Philo's lifestyle and entertainment viewers, are watching longer than nearly anyone else in streaming. What this research confirms is what our advertising partners already see in their results: sustained, engaged viewing creates some of the strongest environments for CTV advertising," said Reed Barker, head of advertising, Philo.

The research also highlighted the growing importance of hybrid monetization models, combining subscription, ad-supported, and transactional offerings. These models allow providers to balance profitability with audience growth while delivering more flexible viewing experiences.

In addition, the white paper identifies lifestyle content as a major opportunity for advertisers. These audiences show strong alignment with commerce-driven advertising, with higher-than-average mobile purchasing behavior and interest in interactive features.

The streaming platform Philo has released some financial metrics for the first time and announced that it has hired former Tubi executive Edward King as its new chief product officer.

While the privately held Philo has not released financial data in the past, the new release shows that it hit $450 million in total revenue for 2024 and that it has seen 20% year-over-year growth in subscribers. The company did not release specific sub numbers but said it expected to become profitable in 2025.

Philo has also announced that it acquired ROW8 to expand beyond live and FAST services. ROW8, a premium TVOD rental service, will be integrated into Philo this year and will live within Philo’s offering by early 2026.

Philo reported that King joined the company in January and has been working on improvements to Philo’s standalone FAST service, content discovery, and live TV experience.

Before joining Philo in January 2025, King spent eight years at Tubi as both a director and later the vice president of product, where he helped transform it into the #1 FAST platform.

At Mubi (then The Auteurs), he initiated the partnership with PlayStation to house one of the first film streaming apps on the platform, pioneering connected TV experiences before they became industry standard.

At MySpace, he helped launch MySpace Film and MySpace TV (which quickly became the second largest online video sharing platform after launch, second to only YouTube). His experience scaling platforms through rapid transformation—with both Tubi and MySpace (Both Fox Acquisitions)—has given him a deep understanding of how to build sustainable, next-generation streaming businesses, Philo reported.

Philo has announced that its entire lineup of live and on-demand TV is now available on LG Smart TVs.

The launch allows subscribers to access the virtual multichannel programming distributor’s $28-a-month package of 70-plus popular channels, including AMC, A&E, MTV, VH1, BET, and Discovery, and 75,000-plus on-demand titles on LG Smart TVs. The offering also includes the AMC+ streaming service and 90-plus free channels.

Subscribers can access the programming by downloading the Philo app at the LG Content Store on their LG Smart TV and signing in.

The service is already widely distributed on Roku, Samsung, Apple TV, Vizio, Fire TV, Android TV and other popular streaming platforms.

More information on the programming is available here.

LOS ANGELES—Cineverse Corp. has inked a new agreement with Philo that makes the Fandor streaming service available to subscribers of Philo's "Movies & More" package.

“The addition of Fandor provides a greater array of choices to Philo's "Movies & More" add-on package, ensuring consumers will have the opportunity to explore both new and beloved favorites, available for viewing on demand,” noted David Chu, executive vice president and general manager Cineverse Networks. “As we continue to aggressively expand the distribution of Fandor, we are certain that this will lead to new fans discovering our indie streaming platform."

Fandor joins a line-up that includes FMC, Reelz, and Sony Movies.

Cineverse also recently launched three FAST Channels on Philo – Comedy Dynamics, Screambox TV and The Bob Ross Channel. 

Cineverse’s reality lifestyle channel So…Real is expected to launch in the coming months.

The cable TV replacement service Philo has announced the launch of nine additional FAST channels that are joining the “free” section of its guide. 

The new channels include InFast, InTrouble, InWonder,, Vevo 80s, Vevo 90s, Vevo Country, Vevo Hip-Hop, Vevo Pop, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. 

All nine new free channels have been added to Philo’s base package, a line up of 70+ channels, and can be found in the Philo Guide. These channels join Philo’s existing free channels, including USA Today, RetroCrush, Crackle, Cowboy Way, Drag Race Universe, Screambox TV, Bob Ross Channel, Fail Army, etc. 

Philo describes as follows: 

• InFast shares the stories, perspectives, and adventures from the disruptors who are challenging the status quo. Lifestyle, entertainment, and action sports turbocharged in high definition
• InTrouble: Test your nerve with InTrouble,  a whirlwind of action, excitement and thrilling experiences right on your screen. Adventure across all the seasons, bringing action sports and adventures from all corners of the world. Off-road action, quests for glory, nail biting races, defy the status quo in the chase of thrills. 
• InWonder: Trailblazing new take on science and tech, that discovers nature’s super-stars, extraordinary engineering, and should-be impossible feats to make you wonder. From the smallest, the tallest, the strangest, and all things IN-between, IINWONDER is bursting with mysteries and adventures that STEM from our world and beyond
• Vevo ’80s: Totally awesome videos from the decade’s biggest artists. Whitney Houston, Guns N’ Roses, Culture Club, Run-DMC and more.
• Vevo ’90s: From grunge to gangsta, the decade’s biggest videos are all here. From Nirvana, Mariah Carey, 2Pac, Britney Spears and more. 
• Vevo Pop: The latest hit music videos from the biggest artists! From Lady Gaga to Billie Eilish, all your faves are right here!
• Vevo Country: Nothing but hit videos from the biggest country artists. From Luke Combs to Miranda Lambert, all your faves are right here.
• Vevo Hip-Hop: The latest and biggest videos from rap to trap. From Baby Keem to Lil Baby, all the most lit artists are here.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul is a lifestyle destination for women featuring inspiring content, hit movies, TV series, and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s original programming. Viewers will find stories that inspire, entertain and change the world one story at a time. 

SAN FRANCISCO—Philo has announced that it is adding nine new free channels to its base package and that it will be highlighting programming for Memorial Day and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI).

The new FAST channels include: Cowboy Way, Drag Race Universe, Screambox TV, Boss Ross Channel, Fail Army, People are Awesome, Pet Collective, Comedy Dynamics, and Outside. 

For Memorial Day, the Philo streaming service will be highlighting miniseries and films honoring those who lost their lives in wars. That content includes: “Band of Brothers” (History Channel), “We Were Soldiers” (MGM+), “Fury” (STARZ), “Hacksaw Ridge” (A&E) and “Flags of Our Fathers” (AMC). 

It is also offering a variety of content honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI). More information on that collection is available here.  

BELLEVUE, Wash.—T-Mobile’s TVision is on its way out, as the mobile provider has announced that it is set to shutter its six-month-old pay-TV streaming service and replace it with new partnerships with YouTube TV and Philo.

The TVision service offered two different packages, TVision Live and Vibe. Vibe was a $10/month entertainment-only package, while Live was a more expensive, more traditional bundle of channels. T-Mobile will stop providing these services as of April 29.

Instead of offering its own TVision Live and Vibe packages, T-Mobile is making YouTube TV its premium live TV service—announcing a multi-year partnership with Google, YouTube TV’s parent company—while Philo will serve as its base live TV service. The services will be available on the TVision Hub streaming device T-Mobile provided customers.

“With our TV software provider encountering some financial challenges and with our broader, strategic partnerships with Google and Philo, we saw an opportunity to deliver unique value to our customers and strengthen the TVision initiative with the best partners,” wrote Mike Sievert, T-Mobile CEO, in a blog post.

The financial problems that Sievert mentioned refers to MobiTV, which provided the software on which TVision was based. MobiTV filed for bankruptcy in early March. T-Mobile is providing MobiTV $15.5 billion in bailout money.

Now, T-Mobile is offering deals for its TVision customers to switch over to either YouTube TV or Philo. Both TVision Live and Vibe customers can get $10 off YouTube TV ($54.99) and/or Philo ($10) every month. In addition, TVision Live customers can get a free month of YouTube TV to start and three free months of YouTube Premium. TVision Vibe customers can get a free month of Philo.

“Our experience has shown us consumers need an advocate in this space,” Sievert wrote. “They don’t want more streaming services—they want help buying and navigating these services that already exist.”

For more information, visit T-Mobile’s blog. 

SAN FRANCISCO—There is a new player in the live TV streaming service field, as Philo, a television technology company, is rolling out its streaming service nationwide. The new service will feature live TV, DVR and on-demand services for entertainment, lifestyle and knowledge programming.

The content available on Philo’s service will include programming from A+E Networks, AMC Networks, Discovery, Scripps Network and Viacom channels like A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, AXS TV, BBC America, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, History, IFC, MTV, Nickelodeon, TLC and more.

Technology features for the streaming service include the ability to watch on up to three different devices at the same time. The service offers a 30-day DVR, on-demand library, and the ability to pause live channels or watch programs from the beginning.

One of the features that Philo expects to roll out next year integrates social media platforms, fittingly as the Philo CEO Andrew McCollum was one of the founders of Facebook. Among the social features planned is the ability for friends to see what you are watching, allowing people to sync up and watch something at the same time.

Philo is able to work on web browsers, Roku devices, an iOS app and Android via Chrome.

Philo is offering the service for $16 per month and includes more than 35 channels. An additional nine channels can be added for an additional $4 a month.