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Netflix to Soon Let Users Download Videos, Says Report (dslreports.com)
Karl Bode, writing for DSLReport:Netflix will soon let users download and store videos locally, according to Penthera (a Pittsburgh-based firm that focuses on delivery of HD media to mobile devices by storing content on the recipient device) COO Dan Taitz and a report over at Light Reading. Taitz told the outlet that it shouldn't be long before the feature arrives. Netflix has been working harder to help consumers manage broadband caps, and being able to download a video on Wi-Fi for later viewing would go a long way in helping users (especially on wireless networks) that consistently find themselves hamstrung by their monthly usage allotments. "We know from our sources within the industry that Netflix is going to launch this product," Taitz tells the outlet. "My expectation is that by the end of the year Netflix will be launching download-to-go as an option for their customers."Bold move, if it does happen.
The article doesn't say, but here's my thought:
I expect this will use a model similar to Amazon Video, where you can download Amazon Prime videos for offline viewing using the Amazon Video app (such as iPad) and they automatically expire in a few weeks. For movies and shows you've purchased via Amazon Video, you can also download for later viewing and those don't go away. But I think the "Amazon Prime" model applies to Netflix here.
So I wouldn't expect you to be able to download a movie to your home media server and watch it for free forever. You're likely going to be stuck watching it from whatever device you downloaded it on, using the Netflix app.
This seems to be a trend in the industry. I was part of a focus group from HBO where they asked a bunch of questions about "What if we allowed you to download 'n' movies and shows using the HBO Now app on your phone or iPad, and gave you 'x' amount of time to watch them? How long should 'x' be? How many should 'n' be?" I got the impression from the interviews that HBO is thinking about doing this too. HBO even cited the Amazon model, and asked if I used this feature {I do, on iPad} and how many shows and movies I usually download at a time {about 4 shows} and if I can watch them in two weeks {yes}.
It's not a bad compromise.
The question from me is, what happens when Netflix loses the rights to the movie, which happens every few months when a lot of existing selections vanish and new ones show up? Are the downloaded movies no longer playable?
They're afraid of it, but Netflix and Amazon are becoming forces of their own in content creation. The MPAA will make the anti-piracy aspect of it horribly complex, but it will reach the point where it's something they either allow or streaming services won't buy their content and they become irrelevant.
The direction content seems to be heading isn't towards standalone 2 hour movies, but serial shows which when binge watched are kind of indistinguishable from 8-10 hour movies. A big budget movie is $100 million dollars and so is a Game of Thrones season, yet it delivers 10 hours versus 2 hours for a movie.