12+, 2017, Entertainment, Photo & Video
WISE Score
App Store
A budget live TV app with Nickelodeon, Hallmark, and unlimited DVR, provided you lock down profiles before hand-off.
Philo is essentially a streamlined cable package delivered through an app. If your home still values traditional channel surfing or needs cheap access to live networks like Nickelodeon, HGTV, and Food Network, it delivers without bloated sports fees.
From a family management standpoint, live TV brings unedited commercials and unmoderated channel flipping. Setting up dedicated kid profiles is essential if you want to keep true crime promos and adult reality drama out of sight.
Philo works for families with kids of any age, provided parents set up custom profiles to restrict young viewers to kid-friendly networks like Nickelodeon.
Offers standard cable television fare, ranging from wholesome family staples on Nickelodeon and Hallmark to mature reality TV and true crime on networks like MTV and ID.
A passive video delivery app that facilitates traditional channel browsing and streaming without creative or interactive components.
Includes kids profiles and unlimited DVR to avoid live ads, but live network channels carry unedited TV commercials and mature channel options if left unrestricted.
Carries educational cable networks like Discovery and History Channel, though the bulk of the library consists of commercial entertainment and reality shows.
Philo fills a clear spot in the streaming market: live cable television without local broadcast fees or expensive sports packages. For families, the draw is straightforward access to live feeds and on-demand catalogs from networks like Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., HGTV, and Food Network at a fraction of standard cable costs.
Unlike on-demand platforms where every thumbnail is pre-filtered, Philo carries the typical features of traditional cable: commercial breaks, promos for mature late-night shows during daytime hours, and endless channel options. The app includes unlimited DVR storage for up to a year, which allows kids to record their favorite broadcasts and skip ads on replay.
Setting up custom profiles for each child is the key operational step. Philo supports up to 10 profiles, letting you isolate young viewers from channels like AMC, MTV, or Investigation Discovery while keeping their saved show lists separate.
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