As if Netflix weren’t already beasting the online-video-content game with its stellar original series and large catalog of movie selections, the entertainment company raised the bar once again Wednesday by introducing video downloads at no extra cost to its customer base.
In a statement on its website, the company 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.”
The downloads feature is available on iOS and Android and is included in all Netflix subscription plans. The company said that many of its streaming series and movie titles are already available for download, and more are on the way.
Streaming services have allowed many people to cut the cord and get rid of their cable television subscriptions. Where Netflix comes out ahead in that game is in the cost of its service. Plans range from $7.99 for the most basic service to $11.99 for service that includes HD and Ultra HD. Compare that with the pricing for the HBO Now standalone app, which runs $14.99 per month.
Netflix is not the first streaming service to offer offline video, but the move does make the service more competitive with iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Prime, all of which offer video rentals and purchases for download.
In order to use the new service, Netflix users should make sure they have the most current version of the app on their device.
Read more on the Netflix blog.