Prime members can download movies and TV episodes to iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets and Fire devices at no additional charge.[/pullquote]It’s not looking good for the folks at Netflix. First they miss out on Top Gear. The host of that show are headed over to Amazon to reboot it. Then they lose Epix movies and shows. Yes, that cleaver pun was intended. Okay, to be fair they decided not to continue the contract but still it’s not a win. Now comes word that it’s subscribers wishes are coming true but not with them. Netflix subscribers have been begging for ability to download movies and TV shows for offline viewing later. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to scramble to download a movie from somewhere to watch on a flight. Netflix has always held the stance that offline viewing is “never going to happen. ”
Amazon on the other hand is looking less and less like an underdog in this video streaming battle for our hearts, minds and most importantly wallets. Amazon has added the same feature Netflix said it would never have. If you have a Amazon Prime account you can now store movies and show titles on almost your mobile device. The new feature is supported on Apple iOS devices such as iPhone and iPads as well as Android devices. Keep in mind if you have an Android device you have to download the Amazon Video app from the Amazon Appstore. The Amazon app in Google Play has Prime Video but has not been updated to support the new offline feature yet. If you’re a frequent flyer this has just made your day. Get with the program Netflix and take note Apple. This is what customers want.
Amazon Expands Prime Video Downloads to iOS and Android Platforms—The First and Only Subscription Streaming Service to Offer This Feature
Prime members can download movies and TV episodes to iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets and Fire devices at no additional charge
Allows for offline viewing—on a plane, in a car, at the beach or wherever members want to watch Prime Video
September 01, 2015 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that Prime members in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Austria will now be able to download movies and TV episodes, including award-winning Amazon Original Series, to iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets for offline viewing, at no additional charge. Amazon Video is the only online subscription streaming video service that enables downloads of titles, meaning unlike other subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Prime members can enjoy movies and TV shows as part of their membership even when they don’t have an internet connection available. For more information and to download the app, visit amazon.com/GetAndroidVideo and amzn.to/1IBFZlU.
“Prime members get to download Prime TV shows, movies, music & books and are able to… wait for it. View, watch and listen OFFLINE!”
Titles available on Prime Video to download for offline viewing include:
Drama series such as the Amazon Original Series Bosch based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books; the Starz miniseries The White Queen; and hit network shows including 24, Covert Affairs, Downton Abbey, Extant, Grimm, Hannibal, Justified, Mr. Selfridge, Orphan Black, Sons of Anarchy, Teen Wolf, The Americans, The Good Wife, Suits, Under the Dome, Veronica Mars, Vikings, and many more
Comedy series including Amazon’s multi-Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated series Transparent, the Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman comedy Mozart in the Jungle, and the critically acclaimed comedy created by and starring Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe
Binge-worthy series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Girls, Veep, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, The Newsroom, and True Blood, among others
Kids shows exclusive for Prime members including Amazon Original Series Wishenpoof!, Creative Galaxy, the 2015 Annie Award-winning animated series for preschoolers Tumble Leaf, the live-action kids series Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and Annedroids
Blockbuster movies including Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Captive, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and The Wolf of Wall Street, in addition to exclusives such as Life After Beth, Palo Alto, Starred Up, The Bling Ring, If I Stay, and The Spectacular Now
“There’s no doubt that the way people watch entertainment is changing—anytime, anywhere viewing is important and we are excited to provide our Prime members with offline viewing capabilities on iOS and Android platforms starting today,” stated Michael Paull, Vice President of Digital Video at Amazon. “We are proud to be the first and only online subscription streaming service that enables offline viewing—on vacation, in a car, at the beach, on a plane, wherever our Prime members want to watch they can, regardless of internet connection.”
Prime members have already been loving video downloads on Fire devices. Here is what they have said:
“DOWNLOAD AMAZON PRIME VIDEOS—AWESOME!”
“I download Prime TV and movie content for my kids to watch while we are out and about (driving, waiting for sister’s soccer or dance classes, flying, etc.).”
“Prime members get to download Prime TV shows, movies, music & books and are able to… wait for it. View, watch and listen OFFLINE!”
“I could take videos with me when I had no internet connection, such as in a car. Second, when my kids want to watch videos, I can download their favorites so they won’t be hogging the bandwidth at home!”
The Amazon Video app for iOS has been updated to include Prime Video downloads. For more details on what’s new and to download the app, visit: amzn.to/1IBFZlU.
The Amazon Video app for Android is newly redesigned as a standalone video app to provide Android users with an improved in-app entertainment experience, including the ability to download titles from Prime Video. To learn more about what’s new and to download the app, visit: amazon.com/GetAndroidVideo
In addition to offline viewing on Fire devices, iPads, iPhones and Android devices, Prime members can instantly stream and enjoy their favorite movies and TV series using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/primevideo. Later this year, Prime members and customers will also have instant access to the complete Amazon digital video store while flying JetBlue. Eligible customers who are not Prime members can sign-up by visiting amazon.com/prime for a 30-day trial.
