Up until now, Netflix users on a long flight without internet access who hankered for a Netflix binge were out of luck. Ditto if they were somewhere like the subway or areas that just don’t have good broadband access. Rivals Vudu and Amazon Instant Video have ways to watch some shows offline after download, as do pay TV operators Comcast and Dish (via its HopperGO portable video device).
But back in 2014, Netflix indicated in an interview with TechRadar that offline viewing wasn’t part of its plans. However, according to some reports and rumors that thinking shifted earlier this year, and finally on Wednesday Netflix revealed it’s offering a way to download some of its shows and movies and then watch them later without internet access, at no extra cost. The new feature is included in all plans and available for phones and tablets on Android and iOS, according to the company.
“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,” Netflix reports in a blog. “For example, ‘Orange is The New Black,’ ‘Narcos’ and ‘The Crown’ are available for download today.”