It seems like Hulu and Spotify had the right idea, when they launched a discounted package last month that combined both of their services. Now, the low-cost streaming service Philo is doing the same – but not with Spotify. Instead, Philo and Pandora are teaming up on a combo deal of their own: $16 per month for 37 Philo channels and Pandora Premium. Or, for $20 per month, you’ll get 46 channels and Pandora Premium.
Oh, but there’s a catch: Pandora Premium is only free for three months, not for the length of your subscription. Bummer.
That’s a different deal than what Hulu and Spotify are offering, and is definitely more of a promo than a partnership.
Still, it’s interesting to see others in the industry using the video/music combo bundle to sell subscriptions.
Philo is a relative newcomer to the streaming TV market.
Though the company had been around for some time, offering an on-campus internet TV service for universities, its $16 per month streaming TV service only launched this past November. (Philo can get away with the lower pricing because it ditches what makes streaming so expensive: sports.)
Instead, its core lineup includes cable networks like A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, AXS TV, BBC America, BET, Cheddar, CMT, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, DIY, Food Network, FYI, GSN, HGTV, HISTORY, Investigation Discovery (ID), IFC, Lifetime, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon (+Nick Jr., Teennick), OWN, Paramount Network, Science Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, VH1, VICELAND, We, and others.
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The 46-channel package adds American Heroes Network, BET Her, Cooking Channel, Destination America, Discovery Family, Discovery Life, Logo, MTV Live, and NickToons.
Philo’s service include a 30-day DVR, the ability to watch shows that aired in the past three days, and the ability to pause live TV.
Meanwhile, Pandora Premium (basically, Pandora’s Spotify competitor) is typically $9.99 per month. It usually offers a free trial, but currently that’s 60 days, not three months.
In other words, the Philo combo deal means you get a longer free trial of Pandora Premium along with your Philo subscription. Of course, Pandora’s goal is to then convert those free trial users to paid subscribers.
The move to offer a bundled three-month free trial of Pandora Premium with Philo comes shortly after rival Apple Music began extending its own three-month free trial by another month to those who hadn’t yet signed up, according to reports. And it comes just ahead of Spotify’s earnings.
This isn’t the first time Pandora Premium has been bundled with other consumer electronics or subscription services, the company says. And though it’s a promo, it may consider extending the deal longer term.
“We are actively monitoring the promotion and look forward to working with Philo on a continued partnership,” a Pandora spokesperson said.
Updated, 5/318 with Pandora comment.
