WHOA: Netflix Content Might Soon Be Available to Watch OFFLINE
With Hulu announcing their new live-stream TV, we didn’t think that our cable-free lives could get any better — but now, Netflix is hinting to major changes in how we #NetflixandChill. One of the main things many people have complained about is that Netflix never had the option to download a show or movie to watch offline. This has basically been the worst part of Netflix for forever, but now, it seems like there might be hope.
In an interview with CNBC, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos hinted at the giant working on watch-later capabilities. Speaking about a potential “watch-later” option, Sarandos says that with the company expanding into many countries around the world, they’ve seen that download culture is prevalent.
“We have talked a lot about this over the years and our belief is that broadband and WiFi become more and more ubiquitous, available in more and more places that you are, more and more minutes of the day,” Sarandos said in the interview. “Now as we’ve launched in more territories… They all have different levels of broadband speeds and WiFi access. So in those countries they have adapted their behaviors to be much more of a downloading culture. So in those emerging territories it starts to become a little more interesting. We still think for the developed world our thesis has been true but I think as we get into more and more (of the) undeveloped world and developing countries that we want to find alternatives for people to use Netflix easily.”
While we have lots of WiFi and broadband, they believe, we don’t download to watch later as much. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have the desire. While they can’t give us any dates on when this will happen, the very fact that they’re working on it over at Netflix HQ speaks volumes to the company’s dedication to providing us with the best streaming service they can.
We’re thrilled that we may be able to download a few movies onto our phones or tablets before travel so that we can keep up with our fave shows, even while sitting on the bus or taxiing on the runway. And for parents with little kids, this could make or break a road trip. Hopefully, they’ll be able to announce when they plan to have such a service up and running.
Will you use a watch later feature on Netflix? Tell us @BritandCo!
(h/t Buzzfeed News)