Netflix to allow films and TV shows to be downloaded offline

Watch offline: Netflix has announced some shows will be available to download without an internet connection
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Jamie Bullen30 November 2016

Netflix is allowing films and TV shows to be downloaded and watched offline.

The company announced the move on Wednesday after it previously said letting people download shows added too much “complexity” to the service.

Downloaded content to allow offline playback is now available on the Netflix iOS and Android app, which will need to be updated.

It is not known if the feature is available in the UK.

Netflix tweeted: “Airplane mode. Road trip mode. Stuck-in-the-subway-for-20-minutes mode. Your favorite stories are now available for download any time.”

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The company stressed only selected content will be available to be watched offline.

Eddy Wu, director of product innovation, said: "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.

"Many of your favorite streaming series and movies are already available for download, with more on the way, so there is plenty of content available for those times when you are offline.

“For example, Orange is The New Black, Narcos and The Crown are available for download today."

Netflix isn’t the first streaming service to offer offline playback after Amazon brought offline downloads to Amazon Prime video last year.

Other video apps such as BBC iPlayer and All 4 already let viewers watch content when offline.

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