It is now possible to watch Philo on a Samsung smart TV, thanks to the launch of a native Samsung TV app. While it might seem strange that a Samsung app wasn’t available previously, it is not uncommon for TVs from specific brands to not be supported by a streaming service. More to the point, Philo has never actually launched a TV-specific app, making the Samsung app a first for the live TV service.
Generally speaking, Philo can be downloaded on many popular platforms including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV and Roku, among other devices. For TVs powered by these third-party operating systems, TV support isn’t usually an issue either. For first-party TV brands like LG, Samsung, and Vizio, Philo has never really been much of an option. That’s now changed for Samsung TV users.
The new app is available to download starting today from the Samsung TV App Store. While existing subscribers can simply log in with their account details after downloading the app, new subscribers will still need to sign up through the Philo website. For reference, support for the new Philo for Samsung Smart TVs app only extends back to 2018. Due to this, any Samsung smart TVs that are older than 2018 may find they have issues with the app, or can’t install it at all.
The announcement also makes clear how the release of the Samsung app marks a new chapter for Philo considering it is the first standalone TV app to be released by the company. Philo even goes so far as to start the blog post off by stating, “You asked, we listened” and explaining how the company is aware that “viewers have been wanting more Philo compatibility with their smart TVs.” Although this would seem to suggest that apps for other TV brands might also come through in the future, that has yet to be confirmed.
For Samsung TV users, Philo does make the point that this is an early version of the app and was released now to provide an option to subscribers during the Holiday season. Philo does further explain that it will be rolling out additional updates over the coming months to add more features and offer an even better streaming experience on a Samsung Smart TV.
For those new to this service, Philo can be a really good live TV solution for some homes. While it won’t suit every home, due to the more limited selection of channels, those that are fine with the lineup stand to save significantly compared to other live TV services. After all, the standard Philo live TV plan costs just $25 per month, making it cheaper than DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, and even Sling TV.
Leave a Reply