Netflix Introduces Offline Viewing for Popular Shows on its iOS App [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Netflix this morning announced that offline viewing of its shows is now available to users around the world on the service's mobile app. The launch follows reports from over the summer that offline viewing would be coming to Netflix "by the end of the year."

Now, users will be able to click a "download" button next to each episode in preparation for the times they won't be connected to the internet. The company said that many popular shows are already available to download -- including Orange is the New Black and The Crown -- with more coming soon.

Netflix members worldwide can now download in addition to stream great series and films at no extra cost.

While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we've often heard they also want to continue their Stranger Things binge while on airplanes and other places where Internet is expensive or limited. Just click the download button on the details page for a film or TV series and you can watch it later without an internet connection.

Any Netflix subscriber will have access to offline downloads, and the update will be available today to both the iOS [Direct Link] and Android versions of the mobile Netflix app. Netflix also tweeted out a video to celebrate the launch of downloading and watching "your favorite stories" while offline.

Update: You can check out every show and movie available to download within the Netflix app by tapping the navigation menu in the top left corner, then choosing "Available for Download." Netflix's Help Center has more information as well.

Article Link: Netflix Introduces Offline Viewing for Popular Shows on its iOS App [Updated]

 

[rhoydotp]

Looking forward to this! Hope it's available in Canada.

 

[F1Fan]

Awesome! Could have used that last night on a 6 hour flight. Will be great for future flights though.

 

[Number-Six]

With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/

 

[thewebb]

This was much needed! Hopefully way more shows become available to download

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Currently bingeing Star Trek: Voyager... can I download a few episodes to watch on flights?

 

[Chazzle]

With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/

It doesn't say only two shows are available, but I love your positivity.

The company said that many popular shows are already available to download -- including Orange is the New Black and The Crown -- with more coming soon.

 

[vmachiel]

Awesome, this will be sweet on the plane!

 

[zorinlynx]

This is pretty awesome. I'm not sure why this feature is so hard to offer. As it is Netflix already downloads the video as you watch it so that it can cache it and provide more reliable playback; this simply lets you watch it later.

 

[sinsin07]

[doublepost=1480516884][/doublepost]

Looking forward to this! Hope it's available in Canada.

Canada is not part of world wide?
"Netflix members worldwide can now download in addition to stream great series and films at no extra cost."

With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/

Why assume?
From Netflix website: "For example, Orange is The New Black, Narcos and The Crown are available for download today."

Update from The Verge:
Right now, that selection includes stuff made by Netflix (Stranger Things, The Crown, Narcos, Orange is the New Black, etc) but also a lot of other random choices. You’ve got Breaking Bad. You’ve got Mad Men. You’ve got... Paddington and Minions and Kung Fu Panda 3. This is going to be a huge deal for parents. Movies include Boyhood, Pulp Fiction, Nightcrawler, Good Will Hunting, Hot Fuzz, and more.

Sorry, your kneejerk reaction appears to be inaccurate.

 

[moonjelly]

Hmm. Reconsidering Netflix after a long disaffection.

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

The list of downloadable content is actually very large.

You can see the full list in the app once you update it.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/

It's likely a wide selection of Netflix Originals to start (Stranger Things is also mentioned in the PR), but beyond that it'll be hard to say what is supported for offline viewing since it'll be on a studio-by-studio basis who decides what is available.

 

[TurboPGT!]

Let me guess...not all content of course.

Content delivery has become a total joke.

 

[thewebb]

The list of downloadable content is actually very large.

Link? I'm curious as to what all the downloadable content is

 

[earthTOmitchel]

As someone else pointed out, the list of content is impressive. I've updated the article to point everyone towards the place they can go in the Netflix app to look at everything available to download.

 

[jmkinny]

I updated the app and took a peek as to what is available... There's a decent amount of movies and tv shows available now. I'm hoping Malcolm in the Middle is available before my trip to Australia.

Oh and to the person asking about Voyager... I did not see it listed.

 

[MysteryMii215]

Let me guess...not all content of course.

Yes, but Netflix said that they're working to get more content downloadable for offline use. Of course, that doesn't mean that everything will be available for offline use, but that doesn't mean that what you see won't be the only things you can download forever.

 

[Number-Six]

As someone else pointed out, the list of content is impressive. I've updated the article to point everyone towards the place they can go in the Netflix app to look at everything available to download.

thanks for the update

I stand corrected I guess, the list is much longer than i thought it would be

Were movies available for download before today?

 

[TurboPGT!]

Yes, but Netflix said that they're working to get more content downloadable for offline use. Of course, that doesn't mean that everything will be available for offline use, but that doesn't mean that what you see won't be the only things you can download forever.

I know, its just another half-baked not-quite-what-we-say-it-is, not-quite-what-you'd-expect, poor user experience. All related to the ongoing war over content licensing.

 

[dominiongamma]

I updated the app and took a peek as to what is available... There's a decent amount of movies and tv shows available now. I'm hoping Malcolm in the Middle is available before my trip to Australia.

Oh and to the person asking about Voyager... I did not see it listed.

I saw it listed along with tng

 

[earthTOmitchel]

thanks for the update

I stand corrected I guess, the list is much longer than i thought it would be

Were movies available for download before today?

Nope, today marks the first downloads for anything. Pretty cool that stuff like Boyhood and Sing Street are already available.

 

[dominiongamma]

Currently bingeing Star Trek: Voyager... can I download a few episodes to watch on flights?

Yes ! I downloaded a few already

 

[Nick11Mac]

Good news, with hopes that more shows become available soon.

 

[Kabeyun]

Presumably there will be DRM associated with these files. Presumably this will promptly be cracked if it isn't already. Unlimited data plans, get ready for evildoers to build up their media collections!

Not a hardcore techie, but I think I read somewhere they switched from Silverlight to some sort of HTML5 authentication, but that's only for in-browser video. Whatever they deploy, it won't hold up!