Philo said it is adding a group of free ad-supported streaming TV channels to its programming lineup, effective Wednesday.

The channels include InFast, InTrouble and InWonder from Insight TV, Chicken Soup for the Soul from Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and music video channels from Vevo including Vevo ’80s, Vevo ’90s, Vevo Country, Vevo Hip-Hop and Vevo Pop.

“Philo offers a great mix of premium and free live-streaming television channels which we’re pleased to have Chicken Soup for the Soul become part of,” Philippe Guelton, chief revenue officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, said. “Our channel has so much great content that will entertain viewers for hours, including our branded content series like At Home With Genevieve and Wedding Talk. In addition, now through the end of the year, we’re streaming romantic holiday movies — all for free.”

The Chicken Soup for the Soul FAST channel 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. Currently streaming on the channel are holiday movies that include Meeting Mr. Christmas, A Great North Christmas, 2nd Chance for Christmas, and An Evergreen Christmas.

InFast is a lifestyle channel, InTrouble features action and sports and InWonder focuses on science and technology.

Entertainment-based streaming platform Philo said it reached an agreement with Kin to produce Philo’s first original series, Boss Moves with Rasheeda.

The move signals that even low-priced entries in the streaming business are feeling pressure to get into original programming in order to attract and keep subscribers and users.

As part of the deal, Philo will launch a Kin Channel. The channel will have more than 65 hours of Kin’s women’s lifestyle programming. 

Also: Philo Donates $1 Million of Ads for Black Businesses

Kin’s shows include Hello Hunnay with Jeannie Mai Jenkins, Really, Truly, Maybe with Christina Milian, and Heart of the Batter with Jordin Sparks. 

The Kin library will be available to subscribers as part of Philo’s base package.

Boss Moves with Rasheeda stars Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta’s Rasheeda Frost. It is scheduled to premiere in April. The series will also be available on Kin’s social media channels.

Also: Philo Renews Carriage Deal with Crown Media Family Networks

“We’re thrilled to bring Kin’s entertaining and diverse content to our platform for our subscribers," said Mike Keyserling, COO of Philo. "Kin’s programming, which specifically focuses on entrepreneurship and female empowerment, is a great fit for Philo’s community. We are certain that Philo subscribers will enjoy the extensive catalog of Kin shows, as well as Boss Moves, our upcoming new original series with Rasheeda.”

Boss Moves with Rasheeda will begin shooting later this month and will include 12 30-minute episodes. The episodes will show audiences into Rasheeda’s homes and businesses and provide a behind-the-scenes look at her financial decision making.

"Kin creates programming that resonates with women of all backgrounds, wherever they are watching," said Tejal Ajmera, COO of Kin. “Kin creates programming that resonates with women of all backgrounds, wherever they are watching.  We are excited to debut Boss Moves with Philo and are  confident it will attract audiences looking for strong, talented, and diverse talent.”  ■

Streaming TV service Philo said it reached an agreement with GAC Media to carry GAC Family and GAC Living.

Launched by former Hallmark Channel head Bill Abbott, GAC Media acquired cable networks Great American Country and Ride TV and in September turned them into GAC Family and GAC Living featuring Hallmark-style family friendly programming and a slate of original holiday movies.

Also: Former Hallmark Head Bill Abbott Unwraps GAC’s Holiday Expectations

Philo had been carrying GAC Family under a previous agreement with Discovery, which sold Great American Country to GAC Media.

“Philo viewers have already been enjoying the great programming from GAC Family, and now we are thrilled to be adding GAC Living to our lineup,” said Adam Salmons, VP of content and distribution for Philo. “GAC’s original content is certain to delight all of those who subscribe to Philo for family-friendly entertainment this holiday season and beyond.”

Also: Bill Abbott’s GAC Family, GAC Living Find a Family-Friendly Home on Frndly TV for the Holidays

Philo is expected to launch GAC Living in early December.

“We are excited to be joining the popular Philo service at the perfect time as we head into the holiday season,” said Erin McIlvain, chief officer, distribution and content strategy for GAC Media. “We look forward to entertaining the Philo audience with GAC’s family-friendly original movies, specials and unscripted series, as well as our acclaimed ‘Great American Christmas’ programming lineup.”

Great American Christmas is GAC Family’s franchise featuring original holiday-themed movies premiering each Saturday night until Christmas. After premiering holiday films on three consecutive nights over the Thanksgiving weekend, GAC will air new original Christmas programming each Saturday and Sunday through the end of December.

Holiday programming titles include A Kindhearted Christmas, starring Cameron Mathison and Jennie Garth; Royally Wrapped for Christmas, starring Jen Lilley and Brendan Fehr; and season two of the series When Hope Calls, with guest star Lori Loughlin. 

Streaming service Philo TV has teamed with the Bright Spirit Foundation to deliver entertainment programming to families at Johns Hopkins Children's House in Baltimore.

Children's House is the residential facility for some of the sickest patients and their families being treated at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Also Read: Philo Adds Sony Movies

Philo is donating its service of over 60 channels of live and on-demand programming, while Bright Spirit has donated smart TV's for each guest room and common areas. Channels include Discovery Family, Nickelodeon, Teen Nick, Nicktoons, and Nick Jr., and a host of channels--from A&E to We--for the parents.

"This is an amazing contribution to our guests who stay here, and it will provide them with many hours of entertainment and distraction from the daily medical treatments that everyone participates in," said Danna Gildersleeve, director of operations for Children's House.

Sony’s decision to shutter its five-year-old virtual pay TV service, PlayStation Vue, wasn’t all that surprising.

Vue, which was built on a full array of local broadcast and sports channels, had been struggling to maintain its price point amid fast-rising program licensing costs. And competition in the space was intense, with AT&T, Hulu and YouTube all entering the market following Vue’s launch in March 2015.

For his part, Andrew McCollum, CEO of San Francisco-based start-up vMVPD Philo, insists that stakeholders in the live-streaming market aren’t rattled by Vue’s exit. Still, McCollum hopped on the phone with MCN Wednesday to mark Philo safe from the Vue fire, just the same.

MCN: Philo hasn’t disclosed a subscriber number. Are you growing?

Andrew McCollum: We’re growing 11% month over month this year. I feel like we’re on a really good trajectory, and that our fundamental business is very sustainable. We have always taken a very different approach from what you’re seeing play out with Vue. Our content mix is pretty different from the other services. We actually see Philo as a nice complement to other services in the marketplace. People subscribe to Philo to get additional channels that aren’t included in those packages.

MCN: By 11%, you mean customers?

A.M.: I mean active subscribers. We’ve been very successful at retaining people in the Philo ecosystem. And over half of our subscribers had no TV service before signing up for Philo. We have an opportunity to grow the market, not just stave off losses. Also, the increase for revenue is actually higher than 11%. We’ve gotten more efficient on the advertising side, as well.

MCN: What went wrong with Vue?

A.M.: I’ll just say that we liked the folks behind Vue—there was a lot that was good about it. But fundamentally, the economics are challenging for those who are sports- and broadcast-focused.

MCN: Will Philo raise prices beyond its current $20-a-month for 58 channel level?

A.M.: I can’t say that we’ll never raise prices. But we’ve kept our pricing stable. We did go from two packages to one, but we didn’t increase anyone’s bill.

MCN: How many people work for Philo?

A.M.: Philo has around 65 people right now. We try to operate really efficiently, and we definitely have the lowest head count in our space. And our technology is really efficient, too. We develop everything in-house. We’re not paying extra to have vendors build our service. I think when people compare programming costs to monthly subscriber revenue, the technology platform is really under-appreciated. CDN and other costs can be significant, and they’re often ignored entirely by those analyzing the business.

MCN: The streaming market is about to get a lot more crowded with Disney+, Peacock and HBO Max crowding in. How is Philo positioned for that?

A.M.: Again, we look at Philo as a companion to those services. We don’t carry programming from Disney, WarnerMedia or NBCUniversal. I actually think it’s a positive for streaming TV in general. A lot more people are going to be learning how to get TV through Roku, Amazon Fire TV and other connected devices. It’ll make it more appetizing to add multiple subscription services. There will be marketing challenges in the short term—ad real estate is going to be tough to come by, for example. But there are alternatives like direct mail.

MCN: What’s Philo’s next big move? Are you looking to get bought out?

A.M.: We don’t actively look to encourage or court M&A—it’s not how we think about the business. We’re looking out over the next year or two years, and Philo will look a lot different than traditional TV. I think it will become a lot more social, which is something that TV hasn’t really done well. It’ll have unlimited DVR, and it’ll have a better search and discover interface. It’ll be TV with super powers. 

Sony’s decision to shutter its five-year-old virtual pay TV service, PlayStation Vue, wasn’t all that surprising.

Vue, which was built on a full array of local broadcast and sports channels, had been struggling to maintain its price point amid fast-rising program licensing costs. And competition in the space was intense, with AT&T, Hulu and YouTube all entering the market following Vue’s launch in March 2015.

For his part, Andrew McCollum, CEO of San Francisco-based start-up vMVPD Philo, insists that stakeholders in the live-streaming market aren’t rattled by Vue’s exit. Still, McCollum hopped on the phone with MCN Wednesday to mark Philo safe from the Vue fire, just the same.

MCN:Philo hasn’t disclosed a subscriber number. Are you growing?

Andrew McCollum: We’re growing 11% month over month this year. I feel like we’re on a really good trajectory, and that our fundamental business is very sustainable. We have always taken a very different approach from what you’re seeing play out with Vue. Our content mix is pretty different from the other services. We actually see Philo as a nice complement to other services in the marketplace. People subscribe to Philo to get additional channels that aren’t included in those packages.

MCN:By 11%, you mean customers?

A.M.: I mean active subscribers. We’ve been very successful at retaining people in the Philo ecosystem. And over half of our subscribers had no TV service before signing up for Philo. We have an opportunity to grow the market, not just stave off losses. Also, the increase for revenue is actually higher than 11%. We’ve gotten more efficient on the advertising side, as well.

MCN:What went wrong with Vue?

A.M.: I’ll just say that we liked the folks behind Vue—there was a lot that was good about it. But fundamentally, the economics are challenging for those who are sports- and broadcast-focused.

MCN:Will Philo raise prices beyond its current $20-a-month for 58 channel level?

A.M.: I can’t say that we’ll never raise prices. But we’ve kept our pricing stable. We did go from two packages to one, but we didn’t increase anyone’s bill.

MCN:How many people work for Philo?

A.M.: Philo has around 65 people right now. We try to operate really efficiently, and we definitely have the lowest head count in our space. And our technology is really efficient, too. We develop everything in-house. We’re not paying extra to have vendors build our service. I think when people compare programming costs to monthly subscriber revenue, the technology platform is really under-appreciated. CDN and other costs can be significant, and they’re often ignored entirely by those analyzing the business.

MCN:The streaming market is about to get a lot more crowded with Disney+, Peacock and HBO Max crowding in. How is Philo positioned for that?

A.M.: Again, we look at Philo as a companion to those services. We don’t carry programming from Disney, WarnerMedia or NBCUniversal. I actually think it’s a positive for streaming TV in general. A lot more people are going to be learning how to get TV through Roku, Amazon Fire TV and other connected devices. It’ll make it more appetizing to add multiple subscription services. There will be marketing challenges in the short term—ad real estate is going to be tough to come by, for example. But there are alternatives like direct mail.

MCN:What’s Philo’s next big move? Are you looking to get bought out?

A.M.: We don’t actively look to encourage or court M&A—it’s not how we think about the business. We’re looking out over the next year or two years, and Philo will look a lot different than traditional TV. I think it will become a lot more social, which is something that TV hasn’t really done well. It’ll have unlimited DVR, and it’ll have a better search and discover interface. It’ll be TV with super powers. 

The media-veteran chief operating officer of virtual pay-TV provider Philo said Thursday his company's $20 bundle of 58 streamed channels of entertainment programming is averaging more than four hours per day of viewing by subscribers and seeing "accelerating" growth overall.

Mike Keyserling (pictured, right), previously of HBO and Tandberg, told moderator Tim Hanlon (left) that Philo is realizing the potential of a sports-free bundle that attracted investors including programmers such as AMC Networks, Discovery and Viacom.

He didn't disclose specific subscriber figures for the circa 2017 service. But he said, in opening the OTT & Video Distribution Summit, that privately owned Philo is "coming off by far the best month in our company’s history.” 

"There's been a lot documented recently about how the MVPDs are taking a pause or even reducing their size. We’re just not seeing that dynamic at all," he said at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel conference, put on by MCN parent Future plc. "We grew by 30% in the last eight weeks and we’re really at the most accelerating growth in our company’s history."

Granted, it's a short history, and Keyserling said it was energizing to be at a 65-employee size company at this dynamic time in TV. He said Philo was not obliged to tilt marketing toward its investor programmer partners but that those investors believe they will grow along with Philo. 

Also From OTT Summit: Ellation Exec Says Niche OTT Platforms Must Diversify

Philo offers 58 live channels and a cloud-based DVR along with on-demand programming, and the lineup includes digital entities such as Cheddar, Tastemade TV and PeopleTV, Keyserling noted. "We feel a little bit akin to those [diginet] companies being a small company and a scrappy company ourselves,” he said. 

He said ad-supported VOD networks have a place in the market, but as a $20 service “we really want to make sure that we’re keeping that premium feel into all the content we offer.”

Asked how he sees the pay subscription VOD market shaking out, with launches of Disney+ and HBO Max ahead, among others, Keyserling said bundled channel packages have always made sense and if consumers weren't getting charged $150 for them there would be less cord cutting. At some point consumers will look for the least expensive way to get the content they want, he said. 

“I don’t believe the future of TV is going to be 20 apps where you have to remember 20 passwords and figure out where the content you want to watch is," he said.

Count Wide Open West (WOW) as the latest cable company to cede the video business to the OTT ranks.

The Englewood, Colo.-based operator has reached an agreement with San Francisco-based start-up virtual MVPD Philo to resell the OTT service to its broadband-only customers.

This is only the latest example of small and midsized carriers repacking vMVPDs. The National Cable TV Cooperative, for example, has similar agreements with Philo and fuboTV, for example.

Philo, which recently tweaked its pricing and packaging, offers 58 channels—with no live sports or news—for an industry-low $20 a month.

WOW lost 8,100 more video customers in the first quarter and now has just around 398,000 left spread across the Midwest and Southeast.

“We are excited to partner with Philo to offer yet another option to WOW! customers,” said Roger Seiken, senior VP of programming for WOW, in a statement. “Philo’s video streaming service offers big name entertainment networks, with a smart easy-to-use interface, all at a very compelling price. WOW recognizes today’s video consumers want to choose from a variety of entertainment options and our goal is to help our customers access and enjoy those services. Combining Philo TV and WOW!HSD is a winning proposition for our customers.”

Added Philo CEO Andrew McCollum: “Philo is always looking for great partners to work with in order to bring our service to TV lovers, wherever they are,”“Our new partnership with WOW will offer a new entertainment-television experience to layer on top of WOW!’s super fast 1-Gig high speed data network.”

The National Cable Television Cooperative is partnering with Philo TV to allow its cable operator members to offer the over-the-top streaming video service to its customers.

“Our partnership with NCTC will expand the available options for millions of TV lovers by giving them access to the unique entertainment-focused package we’ve created,” Philo CEO Andrew McCollum said in a statement. “Philo is a perfect complement to the existing services, particularly high-speed internet, that these companies already offer.”

Related: Philo TV Launches on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV 

Philo TV launched in November, offering 40 channels, including A&E, AMC, Comedy Central, Food Network, HGTV, ID, Lifetime, MTV and OWN for $16 per month. Subscribers can access Philo through browsers, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, iPhone App & Android via Chrome, as well as 37 TV Everywhere apps and websites for participating networks.

“This agreement is another way for our members to offer even more choices to their customers,” said Rich Fickle, CEO and president of NCTC. “We know how important it is that we continue to find new ways to add value to our members and our new relationship with Philo, an innovative and forward-thinking brand, is a powerful step in that direction.”

Virtual MVPD Philo TV has launched on Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, adding to a growing list of platforms on which the entertainment-focused service is available.

Separately, Philo added that it has raised $40 million in another round of funding.

Philo, which debuted in November offering about 40 channels of programing for $16 per month, had earlier been available via Roku, desktop and web browsers, iPhones and Android devices via Chrome, and via 35 separate TV Everywhere apps. 

Related: Philo Unleashes Entertainment-Focused OTT TV Service 

“Our goal is to build a television service that people love,” Philo TV CEO Andrew McCollum said in a statement. “The expansion onto Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV is a natural extension for us and allows many new people to discover and enjoy Philo, as well as expanding the viewing options for our existing subscribers. We’re thrilled with the response we’ve seen to Philo so far, but we’re always looking for ways to make it even better, and this is another big step forward in that direction.”

Related: Philo Opens Access to TV Everywhere Sites, Apps 

The latest round of funding – led by existing investors AMC Networks, Discovery and Viacom – will allow the company to put additional funds into product features and enhancements and expand its marketing efforts. The company is also developing additional innovations, including a social media-driven TV experience.

Watch MCN: vMVPDs by the Numbers