Earlier this year, I came to the realization that, after a decade of streaming, I simply wasn't watching cable TV anymore; instead, I was streaming about 98 percent of my TV viewing from providers like Prime Video, Paramount+, FilmRise, Kanopy, and Tubi. I was still watching programming from the History Channel and PBS, but primarily streaming it, rather than watching it on cable. I prefer streaming because it allows me to watch TV on my schedule.
After receiving notice of yet another rate hike, this one blamed on the increasing cost of sports programming from channels like ESPN, which I have zero interest and never watch, I decided it was time to turn in my cable box.
It seems I was a bit ahead of the curve in cutting the cable, as two months later, my Internet and cable provider announced it was dropping its TV service. I guess enough subscribers had cut the cable that they decided to do the job for everyone else. Deleting cable TV service made no real difference in my viewing. Of course, it did require one additional streaming subscription.
In order to continue accessing the History Channel's streaming app, I needed a TV provider, which I found in the form of Philo, a streamer that offers programming from a handful of cable channels, including History, for a fraction of the cost of other similar services like Sling. Named for one of the inventors of television, Philo Farnsworth, Philo does not include any sports programming, which helps keep the cost affordable for those of us who don't care about or watch sports.
I have been quite content with this streaming-only arrangement for the past six months or so, and was initially irritated when I received an email from Philo, announcing a $10 price increase, effective next month (November 2025), but then I read the rest of the email.
Unlike most TV price hike notices I've received, this one actually promised to give me something of value for my money. While I couldn't opt out of paying the extra $10, I was getting ad-supported versions of HBO Max and Discovery Plus. For that price, I'm basically getting both streamers for the price of HBO Max alone.
While it's nice to have access to HBO Max, I'm also excited to have Discovery Plus, which includes not only the programming library of the Discovery Channel, but also other related channels, including TLC, HGTV, Food Network, and others. Best of all, that list inlcudes one of my favorites, MotorTrend. I now have a full slate of cable viewing at my disposal, without having cable. All in all, I feel like Philo gave me my money's worth, but at the same time, I hope they will not make a habit of these forced upgrades.
