Hulu Plans Offline Viewing: Streaming Service To Follow Recent Netflix Move In 'Few Months'

Video streaming service Hulu plans to introduce offline playback for subscribers this year, according to an interview with Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins via Adweek .

“It's something that we're going be doing in a few months,” Hopkins said to Adweek. “We're working hard on the technology around that and getting the rights squared away.”

Offline playback allows subscribers to download shows or movies to a mobile device’s local storage, so you can play content without using data or in situations like a flight where high-speed Internet is unavailable. When the update rolls out, it’ll put Hulu in line with competitors like Netflix and Amazon, who’ve previously launched similar features for offline use.

However, don’t expect to be able to play all your shows offline. Downloadable rights generally have to be negotiated separately from streaming rights, so availability can vary from title to title. Like with Netflix, its self-produced programs can be downloaded, but programs like Bob’s Burgers have yet to be made available offline. As Hopkins’ statement notes, Hulu is in the process of figuring out its own downloading rights.

The update is one of several initiatives Hulu has planned for this year. Hopkins also confirmed to Adweek plans to launch a sub-$40 streaming service intended to go head-to-head with AT&T’s DirecTV Now. The company has also made a persistent effort to bulk up its content library through in-house development of shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and acquiring older titles like The Golden Girls.