If the rumor is true, Netflix subscribers might just be able to watch Stranger Things without needing a Wi-Fi connection.
Netflix reportedly will introduce offline viewing capability, which will no longer require a network connection or the use of data to stream content that is available on the platform.
And subscribers won't have to wait long for this feature, as it reportedly will launch within the next two months.
Up until this point, streaming content on Netflix is only made possible when the user is online. Back in 2014, the company's CEO Reed Hastings previously said that allowing for offline viewing would "never" happen. This was mostly because he thought it would be a waste of time for people to download episodes of full films when they can just stream instantly.
But as streaming has become more popular than ever and competition has increased, Netflix began seeing the upside to offline viewing. Many people may want to previously download content to be able to watch it whenever and wherever, regardless if they have service or not.
In April, Hastings then said that Netflix should "keep an open mind" about the idea of offline streaming.
And now there is a good chance that offline viewing will be offered sometime before the the year comes to an end.
However, Netflix has not publicly announced this or confirmed any of these rumors.
Instead, the information comes from Dan Taitz, and industry insider and COO of the software and mobile video company Penthera. It's important to keep in mind that Taitz made the claim that Netflix is planning to offer offline viewing back in June. A lot could've changed over the course of a few months, so there is a possibility that even if there were truths behind this rumor back then, Netflix may have decided to ditch the idea.
If Taitz is right, Netflix has been working on the feature for quite some time, with plans to allow for offline viewing for certain programs. It would make sense to have popular series like Stranger Things and House of Cards available for watching anytime.
Taitz went so far as to say that this is an "open secret" among those in the streaming industry, and would be a "natural progression" for Netflix. He predicted that the platform would roll out this ability by the end of the year.
At the time, a Netflix spokesperson didn't confirm or deny the rumor. But as the end of the year is quickly approaching, we can't help but wonder if it will start rolling out the new feature.
Its competitor Amazon already offers this feature to select programs, so it's probably only a matter of time before Netflix originals can be viewed offline.
