How to watch local channels on Philo

Philo is a streaming service that enables viewers to watch popular channels they’re used to seeing on cable and satellite services. Philo local channels aren’t available, but the service is largely focused on entertainment rather than news or sports. This makes it more affordable than many of its competitors in the live streaming marketplace. 

Philo provides access to more than 60 live channels for $20/mo., which comes with a cloud digital video recorder (DVR) feature that enables users to record their favorite shows. This makes Philo one of the best streaming services for cord-cutters on a budget. For more information on how much the service costs, read our guide to Philo packages, pricing, and channels.

Philo can be streamed from most devices, including iOS and Android phones and tablets. It’s also compatible with streaming players like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Roku. To discover how to watch the service, read about which devices work with Philo.

This article will explore does Philo have local channels and answer questions like how do I get local channels with Philo. For more information about the service, read our Philo review.

Does Philo have local channels?

The answer to can you get local channels on Philo is, unfortunately, no. Philo doesn’t currently provide any local channels for people to get news and sports from their region. However, it does provide more than 60 channels covering entertainment, family, and lifestyle.

The Philo offering does include a few news channels, like BBC America, BBC World News, and Cheddar News. It also offers entertainment for all the family with kids’ channels Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, and TeenNick.

It also has plenty of entertainment channels such as A&E, American Heroes Channel, Discovery, History, Law & Crime, Science Channel, and VICE. And Philo’s channel lineup includes a host of networks covering a variety of lifestyle options like Aspire, DIY, Lifetime, People TV, Tastemade, and Travel Channel. It also offers several music entertainment channels in MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, MTV Live, and VH-1. Movie lovers also have options with Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, Paramount Network, and Sundance TV.

Philo now also offers two premium channels that users can purchase on top of their monthly subscription fee. Philo subscribers can add STARZ for an additional $9/mo., which includes access to live and on-demand movies and shows from three channels, STARZ, STARZ Encore, and STARZ Kids & Family. They can also add EPIX for $6/mo., which includes on-demand entertainment and three live channels, EPIX, EPIX Hits, and EPIX 2.

How to watch local channels on Philo

While Philo doesn’t provide local channels to subscribers, there are several options to tune into entertainment, news, and sports from local broadcasters.

Streaming services

The key benefit of Philo being relatively affordable compared to other offerings in the live streaming marketplace is that it can be easily paired with another service that does include live channels. 

For example, the CBS All Access app enables viewers to tune into local channels and CBS on-demand programming for just $5.99/mo. This makes it an affordable option for people who want to add local channels and shows to their Philo subscription. CBS Access provides more than 15,000 TV episodes on-demand, including shows from BET, MET, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel. It also enables users to tune in to live sports events like the NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League soccer.

Another option could be to pair Philo with a streaming service like Sling TV, which provides access to FOX and NBC local channels in select markets for as little as $30/mo. Purchasing Philo and the Blue or Orange Sling TV package would cost $50/mo. in total, which remains cheaper than signing up for premium live streaming services like fuboTV ($59.99/mo.), Hulu + Live TV ($54.99/mo.), and YouTube TV ($64.99/mo.)

Local news sites

Philo subscribers who only want local channels for news coverage can find much of it for free online. Many local stations provide free newscasts that can be streamed on their websites.

Network websites

Some major networks, such as ABC and FOX, provide free access to limited shows on their websites. Others also provide some of their content for free on YouTube.

Free news apps

The five major local news broadcasters, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS, all provide free apps that provide some on-demand programming. Depending on the app, this can include full episodes of the latest shows the day after they premiere. 

For example, ABC streams full episodes of shows like Modern Family and The Bachelor, as well as its original programming and classic shows online for free. Apps like CBS’ Full Episodes and Live TV, FOX NOW, The NBC App, and the PBS Video App enable users to stream shows the day after they air. However, live streaming from these network apps may be limited without having a paid TV subscription.

Antenna

Philo subscribers who live in a major city or in the suburbs can pick up an indoor TV antenna that allows them to tune into over-the-air local networks. This includes local broadcasts from the likes of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS, as well as other independent news providers. A few recommended indoor antennas include Mohu Leaf 30 ($39.99), Mohu Arc Indoor Curved HDTV Antenna ($34.99), Terk HDTV Antenna ($59.99), and Mohu Arc Pro Indoor Amplified HDTV Antenna ($64.99).

People who live in more rural areas, which are further away from broadcast towers, can still find local channels but, they may need to purchase a more expensive outdoor antenna. A couple of recommended outdoor antennas include Rocketfish Outdoor Amplified TV Antenna and Antennas Direct ClearStream MAX-V (both $79.99).

Before purchasing an antenna, it’s a good idea to check which over-the-air stations are available. To do so, visit Antenna Web, which provides advice on channel availability and the strength of the signal.

The final cut

Philo is a good option for cord-cutters on the lookout for a budget streaming service. However, people who want to watch local channels either need to look elsewhere or bundle Philo with another service. Major networks do provide some local programming on apps or on their websites, but accessing it live will require a subscription to a streaming service.

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