Philo to Raise Price $3 per Month, But Will Add AMC+
The new price and base plan will launch in June for new and returning customers, but existing subscribers will stay at their $25 per month tier unless they opt into the new plan.
There is no avoiding streaming price increases, even if you are one of the cheapest live TV streaming services on the market. The skinny bundle streamer Philo announced on Wednesday that it would be raising the price of its core subscription service by 12% beginning on June 12. The platform’s base plan will rise in price from $25 monthly to $28. However, as it has with previous price increases, the service is also making a substantive change to its offerings as well. In addition to the same entertainment-focused channel lineup that consumers have come to know, they will now also receive a complimentary, ad-supported subscription to the AMC+ streaming service, which normally costs $4.99 per month. However, existing customers can avoid the price increase.
Key Details
- Philo will increase its monthly rate for just the second time in its history.
- The $3 price increase will be accompanied by the addition of AMC+ to the new Philo Core base package.
- Existing customers who prefer to stick with their current plan can stay at their $25 monthly price and avoid switching to Philo Core.
Philo has stood out from its competitors in the live TV streaming space because it has focused on keeping its costs down. It does that by offering just the major entertainment cable channels, eschewing broadcast networks, sports channels, and cable news, which are the most expensive channels for distributors to carry. In doing so, the platform has been able to keep prices relatively flat, especially compared to the rest of the modern streaming landscape.
By the time this new price increase goes into effect, it will have been over three years since the last time that Philo raised its prices. When the service launched in its current form in 2017, the monthly price was just $20. In June 2021, that increased to $25 in conjunction with an expanded DVR, and now, new and returning customers will be able to sign up for the new Philo Core offering that includes AMC+ for $28 monthly. However, existing customers who prefer to stick with their current channel lineup, are able to do that for no additional price. After June 12, it is only if they want to upgrade to Philo Core with AMC+ that their monthly bill will increase to $28.
“We’re proud to say that this is only the second time in the seven-and-a-half years since we launched that we have raised our price,” Philo CEO Andrew McCollum said. “We have a philosophy at Philo that when we raise the price, we should also offer more value to our subscribers at the same time. Last time, we extended our unlimited DVR from 30 days to a year, and this time we’re happy to announce that going forward AMC+ will be included as part of our new Core package.”
Philo’s core offering will continue to include popular cable channels like A&E, BET, Discovery, Food Network, Hallmark, HGTV, Lifetime, MTV, OWN, VH1, and more. Now, that package will be accented by the premium series and feature film offerings from AMC+. Philo already included AMC in its channel lineup, so customers already had access to popular shows like “Interview with the Vampire” and the ever-expanding “Walking Dead” franchise, but now AMC streaming exclusives and titles from Shudder, Sundance Now, Acorn TV, and more will also be included in their subscription.
Philo
Philo is a live TV streaming service designed for entertainment lovers which includes 60+ channels for $28 per month. It’s an especially attractive option for fans of live TV who don’t watch sports. Your subscription includes ad-supported AMC+. Anyone can sign up for Philo’s free service, which offers 80+ channels.