Netflix Might Change the Game Up and Let You Watch Videos Offline

Netflix is reportedly close to letting you download and watch videos offline.

Netflix Might Change the Game Up and Let You Watch Videos Offline
Image via Ben Dalton
Netflix Might Change the Game Up and Let You Watch Videos Offline

Netflix is reportedly about to change the streaming game up with the gift of offline enjoyment, which is great news for everyone sick of getting stuck on long-ass flights with no easy access to Master of None. Honestly, is there any phrase in the English language that's more dreaded than "no internet?" Thankfully, those soul-rattling words aren't a combination you're likely to hear often. Even your grandma has screaming fast WiFi at this point. In fact, the International Telecommunication Union estimates the total number of internet-ready peeps has jumped globally from 738 million in 2000 to 3.2 billion in 2015.

But with great internet comes great responsibility, which is why this fresh scoop from Light Reading should come as no surprise to future-minded Netflix viewers. "We know from our sources within the industry that Netflix is going to launch this product," industry insider Dan Taitz said Thursday. "My expectation is that by the end of the year Netflix will be launching download-to-go as an option for their customers." Hell yeah.

Further proof of Netflix's intentions to follow similar moves from Amazon and YouTube comes in the form of an "open secret" among streaming content giants. "We've been hearing for months now that they are in fact going to roll something out soon," Dan Rayburn, an analyst for market research company Frost & Sullivan, said of Netflix taking the offline plunge.

Great news right? No more Netflixless flights (who wants to cop WiFi for a price?!?). No more buffering when the hotel WiFi isn't of the highest caliber. However, thanks to content rights jargon, Netflix's move to offering offline capabilities may have a few hiccups when it comes to shows and movies that aren't adorned with the coveted "Netflix original" co-sign.

As long as we can get all this rolling in time for the gruesome holiday travel season, then no complaints here.

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