Netflix is rumoured to be introducing temporary downloads to its streaming service

CUSTOMERS of Netflix have been asking for this feature for a long time and now it appears the company might be listening.

Netflix might soon let you download new content.

NETFLIX is great when you have connection to Wi-Fi and can stream until your heart is content.

But what about when you are on your morning commute and don’t want to chew through your mobile data or when you are on a plane with no Wi-Fi in sight?

Understanding these challenges might be deal-breakers for potential customers, the streaming giant is rumoured to be introducing temporary downloads as a new feature on its service

According toFortune, the chief operating officer at a company which sells software to download content from streaming services has said it’s only a matter of time.

Penthera’s Dan Taitz said many industry sources have been claiming Netflix is about to enter the world of downloads.

“From industry sources, I know that Netflix is out in the market negotiating to get download rights in addition to streaming rights,” he said.

“Content providers are getting asked that now from Netflix so [Netflix] can offer a download service.”

Orange is the New Black might be easier to watch on the go.

If the rumour holds merit, it would be a backflip from comments made by the company last year. Netflix’s chief product officer Neil Hunt said the inclusion of such a feature would be too complex for users of the streaming service to grasp.

“I still don’t think it’s a very compelling proposition,” he toldGizmodo UK.

“One of the things I’ve learned is that every time you offer a choice, you paralyse some people who can’t decide if that’s what they want to do or not.

“Now, that sounds really stupid and self-serving, but it is, in fact, true.

“By adding the choices, you don’t increase the number of people choosing one, but in fact you go the other way — fewer people choose anything at all.”

Just to add more confusion to the mix, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said his company must “keep an open mind” about adding downloads during an earnings call in April this year.

For now we just cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Originally published as Netflix is rumoured to be introducing temporary downloads to its streaming service