Netflix Announces Offline Mode: Not All Movies & Shows Available To Download
Starting today, Netflix users can now download their favorite movies and TV shows to watch offline. However, it appears that Netflix’s new offline mode does not come without limitations. While the streaming company has yet to release a full list of compatible shows and movies, not all programs will be available in offline mode.
Finally! Netflix users will be able to watch movies and TV shows even if their device is not connected to the internet. However, according to Business Insider, not all programs are available on the offline viewing service.
Netflix tweeted the announcement this morning from their Twitter account.
Airplane mode. Road trip mode. Stuck-in-the-subway-for-20-minutes mode. Your favorite stories are now available for download any time. pic.twitter.com/g7QZA3TyE8
— Netflix (@netflix) November 30, 2016
Netflix has not released a full list of compatible shows yet, but it looks like fan favorite Netflix originals like Stranger Things and Narcos will definitely be available. It is unclear how many titles from other parties will be available to download.
Users can count on Netflix originals like The Crown and Orange Is The New Black to be available but also movies like Boyhood, Pulp Fiction, Nightcrawler, Goodwill Hunting, and Hot Fuzz.
.@Netflix Launches Downloads for Offline Viewing on Smartphones, Tablets https://t.co/9grzLNtEPV
— Variety (@Variety) November 30, 2016
Amazon Video took the first initiative to allow viewers to watch their thousands of programs offline. Netflix appears to be taking a more cautious approach to offline downloading for now.
Other streaming services like Epix and Starz also support offline viewing, so it was about time Netflix jumped on board.
Netflix had said that they were against allowing offline viewing as recently as the end of last year, but executives loosened their opposition this year, but obviously, not without some limitation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNSDmUkDZjd/?taken-by=netflix
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Offline viewing capabilities can be a big help for the streaming service in regions that might not offer the fastest internet, according to CNET.
Netflix’s global expansion brought the service to countries with spottier mobile networks. Now, users will seriously appreciate being able to download and view programs without interruption.
Netflix offers two options for offline viewing quality with standard and higher.
“Standard quality is a slightly lower video resolution that requires less storage space and takes less time to download. Higher quality is a higher video resolution that requires more storage space and takes more time to download.”
However, neither viewing options will be at the highest resolution available. This will be less of an issue for users watching on their phones, but if they are watching programs on a tablet, things might not look quite as sharp as usual.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMXG3_GDU15/?taken-by=netflix
Offline playback is available for all streaming plans, so customers can rest assure that Netflix isn’t trying to up-sell people on higher subscription tiers.
Currently, Netflix downloads work with iOS and Android devices. In order for Netflix users to utilize the new offline viewing service, they will need to update their Netflix app to the latest version, which launched today.
Netflix conveniently groups all of the offline content in a tab so you can see exactly what is available for download.
Some licensed shows and movies are not available to watch offline on Netflix, including BBC’s Sherlock and Disney’s animated hit, Zootopia. Surprisingly, even some Netflix originals like The Little Prince film cannot be downloaded.
Starting today, Netflix now has an “Available for Download” section on the app which includes a variety of third-party shows and movies, including Parks and Recreation and Mad Men. Netflix confirmed in a statement that there would be “many more” downloadable listings to come.
[Featured Image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]
