Philo, the virtual pay TV service of TV networks, has inked an in-store/promotional deal with brick-and-mortar electronic retailer Best Buy.

The promotion offers new subscribers two deals -- they can get one month of Philo free with a qualifying Best Buy purchase, such as streaming devices, smart TVs and antennas, and they can sign up for a Philo subscription through Best Buy and receive 50% off their first month’s bill.

Philo, which launched in 2017, now has 750,000 subscribers -- up threefold over a year ago. It offers more than 60 channels for $20 a month, well below many other virtual pay TV services that can be priced at high as $55 a month.

Philo is in a highly competitive field of virtual pay TV services: Hulu with Live TV has 3.4 million subscribers, while Sling TV has 2.3 million, YouTube TV has 2.3 million, and AT&T Now has 783,000, according to MoffettNathanson Research.

Its modest price is the result of Philo keeping carriage fees low for networks -- making deals primarily with cable network-only TV groups rather than high-priced broadcast TV networks.

In addition, it does not take networks with high-priced sports network programming, which also drives up carriage fees for pay TV services.

Philo also does not carry local TV stations.

Philo networks include A&E, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, ID, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, OWN, TLC, WE TV, and VH1.
A Philo subscription includes access to movies-on-demand, plus an unlimited 30-day DVR.