Netflix Executive: Offline Viewing 'Never Going to Happen'

MacRumors · Dec 17, 2014

Netflix customers hoping for offline viewing on their iPad or iPhone may have to wait indefinitely for the feature to be supported by the streaming service. Speaking to TechRadar, Netflix director of corporate communications and technology Cliff Edwards said offline viewing is "never going to happen."

Edwards asserts that offline viewing is a "short term fix" that doesn't address the bigger issue of sparse public Wi-Fi access. In the next five years, Edwards believes the expansion of public Wi-Fi and cellular coverage will make the idea of offline viewing obsolete. With a ubiquitous Internet connection, customers won't need to download as they will be able stream all the time.

Instead of working to support offline viewing, Netflix has been focusing on original programming, with twenty new series planned for the coming years. The company also has been moving forward with 4K content and steadily improving its iOS app, recently adding support for iOS 8 and 1080p HD streaming on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Article Link: Netflix Executive: Offline Viewing 'Never Going to Happen'

macintologist · Dec 17, 2014

That's what VPN and torrents are for then.

4jasontv · Dec 17, 2014

So if you are looking for a window to defeat Netflix, it seems you have been given five years.

musicpenguy · Dec 17, 2014

So this guy must have never flown on an airplane then ...

dejo · Dec 17, 2014

MacRumors said:
With a ubiquitous Internet connection, customers won't need to download as they will be able stream all the time.

Instead of working to support offline viewing, Netflix has been focusing on original programming...

Perhaps they need to be working on helping make sure this 'ubiquitous' Internet connection has huge bandwidth and is totally reliable. I see that as a major obstacle to everyone streaming video all the time.

roadbloc · Dec 17, 2014

Oh what a shame. I was totally buzzing about watching the 18 shows Netflix offers offline.

Shape up lads. Torrenting is much better than your service.

GFLPraxis · Dec 17, 2014

musicpenguy said:
So this guy must have never flown on an airplane then ...

To be fair, wifi equipped airplanes are becoming increasingly common.

2010mini · Dec 17, 2014

With VP9 and H.265 coming, streaming will get a lot easier as less bandwidth is needed. This will help greatly in areas that don't have strong cellular/wifi

pubwvj · Dec 17, 2014

One more reason not to use NetFlix and one more reason for other venders to offer offline viewing: they'll get switch customers from NetFlix. Netflix's loss.

Mr Kram · Dec 17, 2014

GFLPraxis said:
To be fair, wifi equipped airplanes are becoming increasingly common.

good luck trying to reliably stream a movie on airplane wifi.

milo · Dec 17, 2014

roadbloc said:
Torrenting is much better than your service.

If that's your attitude, isn't stealing always going to be "better" than paying for something?

No point in even bothering to try and compete with torrents, the people who aren't willing to pay aren't going to accept any paid option.

Lostanddamned · Dec 17, 2014

milo said:
If that's your attitude, isn't stealing always going to be "better" than paying for something?

No point in even bothering to try and compete with torrents, the people who aren't willing to pay aren't going to accept any paid option.

Except, in music at least, this isnt the case, and those who download large amounts of music also buy more music than those who dont.

2010mini · Dec 17, 2014

Lostanddamned said:
Except, in music at least, this isnt the case, and those who download large amounts of music also buy more music than those who dont.

Source please.

Traverse · Dec 17, 2014

It would be nice for when you're away from Wifi and don't want to use up your data plan, but aw well. :/

Z400Racer37 · Dec 17, 2014

I definitely understand his short term point, and people hate managing their content, as we learned with the original Apple TV, but I don't understand why they couldn't just encrypt the file and make it only able to be read by the Netflix app on iOS...

bushido · Dec 17, 2014

Haha certainly not with 200mb to 500mb mobile data limits still being the norm over here. Oh well there are other streaming services that include offline viewing

mbc2237 · Dec 17, 2014

GFLPraxis said:
To be fair, wifi equipped airplanes are becoming increasingly common.

But I believe most, if not all, US Domestic flights block Netflix and other streaming providers.

_Refurbished_ · Dec 17, 2014

GFLPraxis said:
To be fair, wifi equipped airplanes are becoming increasingly common.

When purchasing GoGo WiFi on an airplane, it specifically states you cannot use Netflix with their service. I give it 5 years or a little more before we're able to stream Netflix and other services on planes.

2457282 · Dec 17, 2014

I like Netflix. Use to love them, but all the limitations from the studios means that most good movies aren't available for years. Still, I agree that wifi/cell are becoming better and available everywhere. The original programming is starting to set them apart. And if they get into full length movies, they could potentially shake things up.

But Netflix is still in a bad spot. They don't control the content (except what they are producing) and that is hurting. And they dont control the delivery which more and more is controlled by those that control the content (aka Comcast/NBC). Netflix is being squeezed on both ends. If they can create enough content of their own, and if Apple ever delivers on a true cable cutting Apple TV, there could be a great match possible.

rhett7660 · Dec 17, 2014

GFLPraxis said:
To be fair, wifi equipped airplanes are becoming increasingly common.

And to be fair, most of them are usually very unreliable. Sort of like the ones you find at public locations. But you are right, they are becoming more and more common on flights.

oneMadRssn · Dec 17, 2014

milo said:
If that's your attitude, isn't stealing always going to be "better" than paying for something?

No point in even bothering to try and compete with torrents, the people who aren't willing to pay aren't going to accept any paid option.

Who said they aren't willing to pay? Just because they aren't willing to pay for a service that doesn't allow offline viewing doesn't mean they aren't willing to pay for a service that does allow offline viewing. Currently, the only service that "allows" offline viewing happens to be illegal - that isn't a torrenters fault.

hvfsl · Dec 17, 2014

TBH, I would much rather they allow PC/Mac users to select the frame rate/audio being used. As at the moment, if I watch Netflix content on my TIVO, I can get get it playing in 1080/24p with 5.1 sound. But if you try watching the same content on a Mac/PC, from what I can see it will only play at 720/60p with stereo sound.

roadbloc · Dec 17, 2014

milo said:
If that's your attitude, isn't stealing always going to be "better" than paying for something?

No point in even bothering to try and compete with torrents, the people who aren't willing to pay aren't going to accept any paid option.

I never said I condoned it or even did it. For me, Netflix has a very poor choice of shows for the money and since I live in an area of rubbish internet, the ability to fully download and then view offline will always be preferred.

It is up to Netflix to improve their service so users aren't as tempted by torrents or free streaming sites. Which at the moment, are infinitely better. And free.

wizard · Dec 17, 2014

musicpenguy said:
So this guy must have never flown on an airplane then ...

Or have been to the millions of places without truly fast internet service if a service at all.

Nee412 · Dec 17, 2014

I have decent 4G in my home town and it's surrounding cities. Plus a data allowance that I never even get remotely close to. If I really want to watch a program on the move I can anyway.

I'd rather they centered on more exclusive programing.

Netflix Executive: Offline Viewing 'Never Going to Happen'

macrumors bot

macrumors 6502a

Suspended

macrumors 68000

Moderator emeritus

macrumors G3

macrumors 604

macrumors 601

macrumors 68000

macrumors 68020

macrumors 604

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 601

macrumors 604

macrumors 6502a

Suspended

macrumors member

macrumors 68020

Suspended

macrumors G5

macrumors 603

macrumors 68000

macrumors G3

macrumors 68040

macrumors 6502

Our Staff