It’s always sad to see a channel depart from a streaming platform, but Philo users are now facing that reality. The “skinny bundle” live TV streaming platform which offers around 70 channels for just $25 per month is losing two selections from its lineup this month.

The two channels departing Philo are HDNet Movies and AXS TV. HDNet Movies offers films spanning every genre and decade, and was only available to users of Philo’s Movies and More add-on pack. Titles available on HDNet Movies include “28 Days,” “Comes a Horseman,” and many more.

“On Monday, July 31st, 2023, the HDNet channel will no longer be available in our Movies & More package, so make sure you catch up on all your faves before they leave our platform,” Philo told customers this week. “We strive to give our customers the best possible experience and will keep you in the loop on any upcoming changes to our channel lineup. If you have any questions, our friendly support team can assist you.”

AXS TV is a music-themed channel that offers concerts, documentaries, and more for some of your favorite bands. Unlike HDNet Movies, the AXS TV channel was a part of Philo’s base channel lineup, which means that all Philo customers will be affected by its removal. The Streamable has reached out to Philo to see if any other channels will be removed in the near future, and will update this story if we get a reply. Both HDNet and AXS are owned by the same parent company, so it is possible that as Philo’s contract for the channels ends at the end of the month, these will be the only two departures for the streamer.

Phlio is not the only live TV service that’s struggling to determine the best way to serve its customers the channels they want. DIRECTV is currently in the midst of a retransmission fee dispute with Nexstar, the largest owner of local broadcast affiliates in the United States. DIRECTV says that Nexstar’s fee demands would force it to raise prices on its customers, leaving it in the position of having to increase monthly costs or drop local channels that are important to so many viewers, thus risking their departure.

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Philo

Philo is a live TV streaming service designed for entertainment lovers, offering flexible ways to watch without the high price of traditional TV bundles. The service now features two paid plans — Essential and Bundle+ — alongside its existing free streaming offering, giving customers a range of options depending on how much live and premium content they want.

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The Essential plan costs $25 per month and includes 70+ live TV channels focused on entertainment and lifestyle programming, such as AMC, HGTV, Hallmark Channel, Nickelodeon, and Food Network. Subscribers also get access to 120+ free streaming channels, more than 80,000 movies and shows on demand, and unlimited DVR with one-year storage. Essential also includes a 7-day free trial for new customers.

For viewers who want more premium content, Philo offers the Bundle+ plan for $33 per month (formerly the Philo Core plan). Bundle+ includes everything in Essential, plus ad-supported AMC+ and access to the HBO Max (Basic with Ads) app. Users can also access discovery+ content directly within the Philo app. While Bundle+ adds a full premium streaming bundle for just $8 more per month, it does not include a free trial.

The service is available on most major devices, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, mobile devices, and web browsers. In addition to its paid plans, Philo also offers a free ad-supported streaming experience, allowing users to explore content before deciding whether to upgrade to a live TV subscription.

While it doesn’t include local broadcast stations or sports networks like ESPN, FS1 or NBC Sports Network, Philo remains one of the most affordable live TV streaming options for entertainment-focused viewers. With a simple lineup, generous DVR storage, and a clear path from free streaming to live TV and premium bundles, Philo is an appealing choice for cord-cutters who want to keep costs down while still enjoying a wide range of popular programming.

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How Can You Stream HDNet Movies and AXS TV Now That They’re Leaving Philo?

Of the six largest live TV streaming platforms, there are a couple of options to choose from if you still want access to HDNet Movies and AXS TV. Sling TV will give you the experience closest to Philo in terms of price; Sling’s base plans start at $40 per month, and both include AXS TV. HDNet Movies is also available in the Hollywood Extra add-on pack, which offers eight total channels including Turner Classic Movies for an extra $6 per month.

DIRECTV STREAM is the other option for streaming AXS TV and HDNet Movies. This service offers a five-day free trial, and more of the top cable news, sports, and entertainment channels than any other service. It’s a big upgrade from Philo in terms of selection, but a starting price of $74.99 is far different than what Philo customers are used to. AXS TV is included in all base DIRECTV STREAM plans, while HDNet Movies is in the Movies Extra add-on for $5 per month.