Netflix: Airplay Disabled on Downloaded Content

[getrealbro]

The current iOS Netflix app disables AirPlay (and ChromeCast) when playing downloaded content. FWIW you can still use AirPlay to mirror the screen of an iOS device to an AppleTV etc..

“While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we’ve often heard they also want to continue their Stranger Things binge while on airplanes and other places where Internet is expensive or limited.” In rural America many homes also meet the description of “places where Internet is expensive or limited.” because of low bandwidth and/or capped data plans (e.g. satellite ISPs). So it would be nice if we could download content to an iOS device when we have bandwidth and watch it later at home via AirPlay to an AppleTV etc..

—GetRealBro

 

[pacorob]

I would suggest it to Netflix developers to add it.
I found out last week on two flights that resuming an offline video isn't working as well. I hope that they can fix that too.

 

[IvanX]

If the hindrance is wanting to resume when home, doesn't reconnecting iPad to internet inform Netflix of where the playback stopped and then you can carry on using the Netflix app on Apple TV? The only situation I can think of where lack of AirPlay may rub some people the wrong way is if they are piggybacking on someone else's subscription on their iPad and want to gorge on all that content on the big screen.

 

[getrealbro]

If the hindrance is wanting to resume when home, doesn't reconnecting iPad to internet inform Netflix of where the playback stopped and then you can carry on using the Netflix app on Apple TV? The only situation I can think of where lack of AirPlay may rub some people the wrong way is if they are piggybacking on someone else's subscription on their iPad and want to gorge on all that content on the big screen.

Most Americans live in metropolitan areas where they have a choice of high bandwidth internet connections which support unlimited streaming. But for people who live outside these metropolitan areas, the choices of an internet connection that supports video streaming at their home is much more limited to nonexistent. So there are legit reasons to want to be able to AirPlay downloaded content to an AppleTV etc. For example, a low bandwidth and/or data capped home internet connection that makes steaming at home very poor quality (low bandwidth -> buffering) or costly (higher level data package).

In many parts of rural America the only choices for internet access at home are very low quality or very pricey due to data caps:
* Dial up (56KB) — no data cap but too slow for streaming
* Wireless Point to Point ISPs (125KB - 750KB) —- no data cap but marginal speeds for streaming in the evening*
* Satellite (625KB-1.25MB) — Data Caps make streaming extremely limited
* Cellular (edge, 3G 4G or LTE if you are lucky) — Data Caps -> streaming is $$$

In our area the Wireless Point to Point option is the best for streaming — No data cap with reasonable speeds. So we can stream Netflix in the morning just fine, BUT in the evening the traffic bogs down the overall speed any of us get.* So steaming Netflix in the evening is hit and miss at best. Some nights it works OK. But most nights the buffering makes streaming unusable.

For us the Amazon video app is much better than Netflix because it allows us to download video in the AM when we have reasonable bandwidth and AirPlay it to our AppleTV that evening when our bandwidth gets too slow to stream video.

—GetRealBro

* the users on our Wireless Point to Point ISP share the bandwidth available to the neighborhood router.

 

[IvanX]

You have a valid point and a reasonable use case situation. However, Netflix's answer to low bandwidth customers is technology that adjusts the video quality to what speed is possible. You can still download and watch on your iPad, so it's not like those unfortunate customers are completely abandoned. And don't forget: you can still order DVDs/Blu-Rays from Netflix if the Internet situation is really dire. Would it be nice to allow people to AirPlay downloaded content? Sure, but there are alternatives for the time being and I wouldn't be shocked if NF add that functionality in the future.

 

[Richdmoore]

That's a shame. I tend to watch Netflix & other video services during my overnight hotel stays, and the wifi speeds at hotels very from none to poor usually.

I was hoping to download shows (such as house of cards) from home and use the hdmi adapter to display it on the room's tv screen.

(More and more hotel tv's now have the ability to switch inputs to allow hdmi hookups especially the Hilton chain.)

Anyway, I will have to try a test run to see if the new app only mirrors or does full screen using the hdmi adapter.

 

[IvanX]

With some hotel chains, I seem to recall Netflix trying to do deals to allow people to log into their NF accounts from TVs/receivers in rooms. Obviously requires hotels to have the necessary hardware, but it's better than nothing in some cases.

 

[charlituna]

I would suggest it to Netflix developers to add it.
I found out last week on two flights that resuming an offline video isn't working as well. I hope that they can fix that too.

i doubt they will do it. after all, if you have the device to airplay you can just stream off the native app. that's how they will look at it. plus if they open up Airplay someone might figure out how to use it to copy the files permenantly

 

[Richdmoore]

I just tried the Netflix app with the lightning to hdmi dongle. As I expected, it had some issues.

If the video is downloaded, it will only play in mirroring mode (boxed when using an iPad on a widescreen tv, play/pause buttons show on tv) The exact same video streaming (vs downloaded) will fill the whole screen as it can go into second screen airplay mode (controls on phone/iPad only and not on tv screen.)

 

[pacorob]

I've also noticed the downloaded videos don't work when WIFI is on in a different country. You have to turn off WIFI in order to watch the offline videos.

 

[IvanX]

I've also noticed the downloaded videos don't work when WIFI is on in a different country. You have to turn off WIFI in order to watch the offline videos.

But is it like Amazon where you get a grace period to watch offline before needing to reconnect?

 

[pacorob]

But is it like Amazon where you get a grace period to watch offline before needing to reconnect?

48 hours to 30 days depending on what you are downloading.

"Each Netflix download has a different expiration time. Movies and TV shows that expire from your device in less than 7 days will display how much time is left in the “My Downloads” section of the Netflix app. For some movies and shows, offline viewing must be completed within 48 hours of the moment you press play. When you start playing one of these titles, you’ll see how many hours you have left in the “My Downloads” section of the Netflix app."

 

[SektoReX]

Any idea how to get around the no Netflix downloaded videos on the tv with an adapter after iOS 11

 

[pacorob]

Any idea how to get around the no Netflix downloaded videos on the tv with an adapter after iOS 11

So you are saying you have an iDevice running iOS11 that you are connecting to a tv (with an adapter) to watch downloaded Netflix content from the iOS Netflix app? Does the content play on your iDevice without connecting it to your tv?

I use Netflix via a tv station number / red button via the decoder my Dutch tv provider by a press of a button and in the rare case that doesn't work my Chromecast in my tv together with the Netflix app on my iDevices are also a great option.