Netflix has dashed our hopes of offline content viewing, saying such a move ‘is never going to happen’.
Despite the likes of BBC iPlayer and 4oD allowing users to download content for offline viewing while on the move, Netflix has completely dismissed the notion of such a feature being introduced to its own video service.
Speaking in a recent interview with TechRadar, Cliff Edwards, Netflix’s Director of Corporate Communications and Technology has suggested offline viewing can be seen only as a “short term fix for a bigger problem”.
The problem in question in limited Wi-Fi access and slow download speeds out of the comfort of your home.
While Netflix has previously been sceptical over the introduction of offline viewing, Edwards’ comments are the first time the company has ruled out such an addition altogether.
Although offline viewing might not be a part of Netflix’s future, 4K content certainly is.
Speaking with TrustedReviews earlier this year, the streaming service revealed it hopes that 1 per cent of all content views will be in 4K by the end of 2015.
Discussing his hopes for 4K adoption, Greg Peters, Netflix’s Chief Streaming and Partnerships Officer stated: “1 per cent, we should see that in the next, I would say, year and a half to two years.
“It will start small, but it will get bigger and bigger.”
He added: “These rates tend to go aggressively and that [estimation] is based on 4K TVs as being the consumption point not so much just 4K content because we will have enough content to get to that 1 per cent level.
“You have seen that penetration model where as that technology [4K TVs] become less and less expensive, it gets portioned down the SKU plan so it will be more accessible to more and more consumers.
“That will see it accelerate. The next 12 to 18 months after will see it go several times that and then go faster and faster.”
“You will see us license more and more content in 4K as studios start to produce that.”
If you're one of the 1 per cent looking to enjoy 4K streaming in 2015, you'll be needing a TV, here's our list of the best 4K TVs available now.