Streaming, recording TV service for campus residents

As of Monday, students who live on campus have access to a new service that allows them to record and stream up to 20 hours of any show they could normally watch in their residence halls.

The equipment, called Philo, connects to the source of all TV channels on campus and converts the signal to a video stream that is accessible through most computers and mobile devices.

It works like a DVR, as students can set up scheduled recordings through their devices. The content is saved onto the Philo system for students to access later at their convenience. 

A USF Department of Housing and Residential Education spokesman said this semester is a pilot for Philo, and the system will be monitored to see how often residents use it.

The spokesman said it’s hard to anticipate the demand because students already access over half of their entertainment from online services, such as Netflix. 

— Staff report