With more streaming industry leaders like Apple TV and Disney+ entering this prosperous market, the quality of online content is continuously improving. Users can enjoy a wide variety of genres and options through different streaming platforms, anytime and anywhere.
In recent years, traditional TV service providers, such as cable, satellite, or aerial, are widely replaced by modern over-the-top media services. Over-the-top media services refer to the delivery of film or TV content via the internet, without requiring users to subscribe to any traditional cable or satellite service. Nowadays, viewers have plenty of affordable and attractive options available so that they can easily terminate or switch between different services, mainly because of the arrival of subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Live streaming services refer to those internet-based services that provide “live” or “real-time” content, as well as pre-recorded content, through a website or an app. In the last decade, we have witnessed immense growth in this streaming industry thanks to the wide availability of high-speed internet and connected devices. Viewers can now watch anything, from live sports and news to special events and exclusive movie and TV releases, on their TV, computer, or mobile device.
“Live Streaming Services in Singapore: A Vibrant World to Explore” is a comprehensive essay on the live streaming industry in Singapore. In this essay, the author explores popular video streaming services in Singapore, such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Viu, and others. As a newly arrived marketing manager for Apple TV, this article is helpful for me to understand the competitive landscape of the video streaming industry in Singapore.
Overview of Live Streaming Services
There will always be some form of regulation for live streaming services in Singapore for consumers. However, with the existing class license scheme introduced in the year 2000 and the revised framework in 2018, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said that individuals will not need to apply for a license to broadcast content which is limited to their family and friends on social media accounts or other similar platforms. It is becoming clearer that the law is trying to strike a balance between protecting members of the public from the various potential harm that they may encounter as a result of such service and ensuring that a conducive environment is allowed for both innovation and development.
Singapore, with the high internet speed, has been providing an enormous option for people to immerse in the digital world. Emerging from the first live streaming services launched just three years ago, there are a variety of services that cater to gamers, event organizers, and the everyday person on the street. The protection of minors and socially aware broadcast have also been highlighted in the Broadcasting Act, urging broadcasters, who may not be the primary user, to activate the age restriction facility. This applies to services like Netflix where 90% of the content is for the parental control PG and NC16 ratings. Such service is essential to make sure that parents are given the full opportunity to determine whether their children will have access to this on-demand content and hence encourage family bonding and shared parent-child experience.
The popularity and widespread usage of live streaming services have opened a new dynamic in how people consume their daily dose of entertainment. Conventionally, people had to rely on cable-TV providers to select the channels of their preference. However, what the providers offer is limited by the relatively high cost and usually too much or insufficient content. Live streaming, on the other hand, gives viewers the power to decide what they want to watch on their preferred timing. Such services, including “over-the-top” platforms and social media sites, permit people to broadcast their daily life to the public and share their personal experience anytime, anywhere.
Importance of Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
On the other hand, Amazon Prime Video is a part of the Amazon Prime Membership subscription, and it is the conglomerate’s answer to Netflix’s dominance in the industry. As of today, Amazon Prime Video has more than 150 million subscribers worldwide, and this number is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years. With Amazon Prime Video, consumers get benefits like free shipping, exclusive deals, Amazon Prime Music and more. The platform has a wide and diverse range of content available. Genres range from classic cinema to the newest releases in the box office, catering to different demographics and age groups. Amazon Studios, a subsidiary of Amazon, produces films and series that are exclusively and originally featured in the platform’s library. Some of the most well-known and critically acclaimed films such as Manchester by the Sea and The Big Sick, and TV series including The Grand Tour and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are under the production of Amazon Studios. As a result, the content in Amazon Prime Video is unique and appealing, making it one of the major players in the streaming service market.”
“Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole developed and sold by Apple Inc. since 2007. The consumer can access the original and exclusive content of Apple TV+ mainly. Besides, they can watch all the popular streaming services in the industry. For example, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu are available on Apple TV. In addition, the various features in Apple TV like Siri Voice Control and Apple Arcade have given the device an edge over its competitors.
Popular Video Streaming Services in Singapore
With all the options available, policies such as different group of targeted audience and more and more censored contents have arisen and this provide an opportunity for streaming services to refine its content and features better which will lead to a win-win situation for both the providers and the users. It is of no surprise that these services may continue to expand its content libraries and interactivity features over time to meet the customer satisfaction.
Next, we look into Viu. Viu is a premium video on demand app with countless variety show and even TV shows from Korea, Japan, China, India in multi-languages which include English, Chinese and Indonesian. To enjoy its full features, one can choose for either standard plan with two multi-simultaneous connections or premium plan, which offers four multi-simultaneous connections. It also comes with features of quality and unlimited downloads and streaming in full HD on all devices.
With a Hulu subscription, one can watch ad-supported episodes, movies, and even Hulu original shows. Although Hulu has been a well-received service in the US, the availability of streaming local content on Hulu is quite limited in Singapore and it shows a service error message if one tries to access it from Singapore.
Another popular service in Singapore will be Disney+. Disney+ is dedicated to be the exclusive home for its branded content on video on demand and it is the only place where one can have online streaming access to a direct-to-video and Disney Channel program. Also, it has a rich content library of Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, Star Wars, 20th Century Studios and a lot more. One point to note is that Disney+ allows unlimited downloads on up to 10 devices and streaming on four different devices at once.
To cater to the evolving needs of the local citizens for content, video streaming in Singapore has boomed in recent years, as internet-ready devices and gadgets become more readily available. Among the many services that are available, Netflix leads the way, as it offers the most popular and widely known video on demand platform in the world. It provides a plethora of movies, dramas, documentaries, animation, and even Netflix original and exclusive produced contents. Under a good internet connection, its high definition streaming quality and the feature to set up to five profiles in a single subscription plan make Netflix very appealing to many users.
Netflix
Netflix is considered one of the most popular and well-known video streaming services in Singapore. It is an American platform that offers a wide variety of television programs, movies, anime, documentaries, feature films, and more. Not only can you watch Netflix on your personal computer, but you can also stream it to your game consoles, tablets, mobile phones, and of course, your smart TVs. In terms of cost and fees, Netflix offers three main packages for subscription, with the first month being free for all plans. Multiple devices can be connected and shared as well, depending on your subscription. For example, in the standard package, you can stream shows on two screens at the same time, while in the premium package, you can stream in 4K quality and also on four screens concurrently. It’s been said that once you start using Netflix and exploring the wide range of content and original series and films, it’s unlikely that you’ll stop. Since the introduction of the option to download and watch content offline, an increasing number of working professionals and university students have subscribed to the streaming service, me included. This option is particularly popular among people who take public transport or travel frequently, as it provides a convenient and handy source of entertainment. Ergo, you can enjoy movies and TV shows without an internet connection. Also, users can create a maximum of five different profiles on a single account, ranging from adult to kids. As such, the platform features a personalized recommendation system. After watching a number of shows and movies, the thumbnails and genres on the homepage will start to reflect your viewing habits and preferences. This is convenient as it provides a more targeted and relevant selection, saving you the trouble of having to browse through an extensive list in discovery of something appealing.
Disney+
Disney+ recently expanded to Singapore, offering over 650 films and 15,000 episodes of content from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic and more for just $11.98 a month. Unlike other streaming services, Disney+ offers movie content suitable for all age groups. There are various user-friendly features provided by Disney+, such as adding movies and series into your watchlist. Additionally, subscribers can download content and watch remotely without an internet connection, which further facilitates outdoor entertainment. Disney+ is available for a variety of platforms, including Apple products, Google devices, such as Android TV and Chromecast, as well as game consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. It caters to the need for family entertainment both at home and on the move. Popular and exclusive Disney Originals such as The Mandalorian and WandaVision are available on Disney+ before anywhere else. Viewers can also enjoy the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, such as Iron Man and Avengers.
Hulu
Hulu is a popular video streaming service that offers on-demand TV shows, movies, and documentaries. It was one of the first video streaming services to offer full episodes from TV shows. Originally, it was a free ad-supported service, but the platform has expanded to two premium options: Hulu and Hulu + Live TV, which offers live streaming television access in addition to the entire streaming library. The basic Hulu subscription starts at $5.99 per month with ads, and the ad-free service is $11.99 per month. On the other hand, Hulu + Live TV offers 65+ live and on-demand channels with 50 hours of recording storage and up to 6 individual profiles for $54.99 per month. This premium service also allows the subscribers to access from a various range of devices including Amazon FireTV, Apple and Android devices, Roku Players, and so on. The service is not limited to US users; with a VPN, users can watch Hulu in Singapore and any other country in the world. It provides unlimited instant streaming of current episodes and full seasons. However, Hulu with Live TV is not available internationally. I learned that Hulu offers a “Student discount” promotional deal, where students aged 18 or older, studying in a US Title IV accredited college or university, can sign up for Spotify Premium for Students, now with Hulu for no additional cost. To get this bundle, you need to be an existing Spotify Premium for Students subscriber and verify your enrollment by following the instructions on Spotify’s website.
Viu
First launched in 2015, Viu is a Hong Kong-based video-on-demand service that is extremely popular in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Viu particularly specializes in Asian dramas, variety shows, and original reality shows, which makes it stand out from other competitors. Most contents on Viu are Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, and Indonesian. With Singapore’s rich cultural diversity, this variety of Asian content aligns with the preferences of the local audience. In fact, Viu has a large library of Korean dramas and variety shows, which are regularly updated with the latest episodes. For example, audience can catch the latest Korean variety shows like “Running Man” and “2 Days 1 Night” in Viu. Besides that, Viu provides Cantonese and Mandarin contents from TVB, such as “Better Halves” and “My Unfair Lady”. There are also Indonesian drama serials like “Blessing of the Sea” and “Devil Angel”. Compared to Netflix and Disney+, Viu has a free membership tier with limited commercials for selected content, while premium members can access to all contents in the library without ad interruption and in high definition video quality. However, premium membership comes at a much cheaper price than the other two platforms. For instance, Viu premium as of now is only charging $7.98 monthly while both Netflix and Disney+ standard plan cost $13.98 per month. Therefore, Viu is particularly popular among the younger audience in Singapore who may not have a stable income and could not afford the other platforms’ subscription. Also, as most Viu’s viewers are aged between 18 and 34 which are known as the millennial generation, it is evident that Viu has successfully targeted and made them the potential customer in the long run.
The World of TV Shows on Live Streaming Platforms
TV shows on live streaming platforms can be roughly divided into a number of different genres, mainly focusing on family, drama, comedy, romance, and science fiction. Among which, those targeting a younger audience are usually animated, educational-type premium which serves to educate viewers on a variety of topics. When compared to TV programs, live streaming providers usually categorize TV series into shorter types – and this is convenient for users to find and watch. Moreover, most live streaming platforms have enhanced the transmission signal and definition of TV programs greatly. It is very common to see 1080P, 2K, 4K definition type programs on TV series. Nonetheless, there are some TV shows or episodes that have violent, frightening, or sexual contents. This limits the targeted audience groups and sometimes you might see a ratings sign at the beginning of the program telling the suitability. Also, for personal interest, you may want to watch the TV programs privately instead of on TV. Well, live streaming services do provide options for personal view. Not only can you choose to watch whatever episodes you want, you can start, stop, or pause the program as and when you like. You can even go to the washroom without missing any seconds of the programs. Well, why not? This is personal TV time and no one will ask you to stick to the show time. Well, better concentration can be achieved as TV series now are available on a wide range of devices, from computers and laptops to smartphones and tablets, with many having their own dedicated apps. For example, you can watch selected live TV programs immediately on an LG or Samsung smart TV with the SmartNow feature.
Variety of Genres and Options
As SPH Razor reports, with offerings such as the BPL and Champions League, they have successfully positioned football content as its unique selling point and branding the service to football fans. It also offers a flexible pricing package – Singtel TV GO with no contract at S$6.90 per month. This package will attract non-Singtel mobile postpaid and broadband subscribers, and shows that it is positioning itself to be a market leader in digitalizing TV content. Also, a lucrative referral scheme of free month’s subscription for both the referrer and referred friends is promoting subscriber growth. The diversity in genres of TV shows is not limited to just paid TV. StarHub has made known on their official website that every weekend, customers can access more than 90 free live channels and preview the latest Asian and international blockbusters on StarHub Go for free. Singtel TV offers an alternative experience. Every customer is eligible for 24 months of free Singtel TV GO plan. This evidently shows that the availability and user accessibility to TV content is beneficial, given that consumers are often spoiled for choices on platforms to view their desired shows. The value of ease of accessibility has been recognized by the big players in the market and not only does it offer greater convenience for users, the competition amongst paid TV and free TV providers means that there’ll always be a steadily increasing variety of TV shows in store for the next few years.
Nowadays, live TV streaming platforms host a massive range of genres and shows; they literally cater to every possible interest. According to The Strait Times, audiences crave for genres such as crime, drama, documentaries and reality TV the most. By providing targeted packages catering to different genres, local platform providers like StarHub Go and Singtel TV have been able to attract a wide range of subscribers. StarHub Go allows subscribers to customize their own TV packages with their choice of entertainment, Asian or Kid’s picks. I find the new Video-On-Demand service and StarHub’s first in the market service, Go Select which offers telecast of selected Premier League and Emirates FA Cup matches, are among one of the most interesting features. On the other hand, StarHub TV’s direct competitor, Singtel TV focuses heavily on football.
Exclusive Original Content
On top of that, exclusive original content on these live streaming platforms offers viewers a different entertainment experience, as compared to free-to-air TV shows. Such exclusive original content is found only on specific platforms and they can only be accessed if viewers subscribe to the platforms. An example would be Netflix’s “Stranger Things”. This horror sci-fi series is widely popular in Singapore, and it is one of the main reasons why people are willing to subscribe and pay for Netflix’s services. Such exclusive original content shows are able to attract a large number of subscribers, including those who are from younger generations. This is a great advantage to the viewers because with more and more people watching and subscribing to the platforms, more quality original content shows can be produced. This would, in turn, give viewers a wider range of options and allow them to have more freedom in selecting the types of shows they prefer to watch. For Netflix, only paid subscribers get to watch exclusive original content shows. But they offer three different subscription plans to suit the needs of different groups of viewers.
Accessibility and Convenience
Despite the sheer amount of content available, live streaming services make leisurely TV watching much more convenient in many ways. Firstly, all live streaming platforms allow users to view their favorite TV shows at anytime and anywhere they want, as long as they have a decent internet connection. As a result, gone are the days where avid TV fans have to schedule their days around their favorite TV shows – they can easily catch up with all their episodes on the go or during their free time. Whether it is on a bustling train or at a quiet park, the choices are all in the viewers’ hands. Additionally, the lack of advertisements on these live streaming services also elevate the overall convenience of watching TV shows. On average, an hour long TV show consists of around 15-20 minutes of advertisements. This means that viewers are forced to either sit through multiple ad breaks, or to keep track of the show so they can fast forward through the commercial timeouts. With live streaming services, viewers could indulge into a smooth and uninterrupted TV watching experience – no more annoying and sporadic jingles that abruptly cut the climactic tension of a show. Ergonomically, live streaming services are catching on to modern technology and are becoming much more user-friendly. On popular platforms, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, viewers can have access to functions such as voice command and device pairing. This would further simplify the process of browsing and searching for TV shows. For instance, if a viewer is not sure what to watch, they can simply state their favorite genre to the remote control and a list of recommendations would pop up instantly. This is very different to traditional TV watching, as there is no real way of filtering out programs that do not cater to the preferences of an individual. By including an accessibility category, Apple TV defines access as being able to perceive, operate and navigate. Amazon Prime and Hulu emphasize access by providing audio and/or captions for their content, which benefits viewers with hearing or vision impairments. Also, they provide an option for users to learn more about accessibility through the usage of screen reader/header navigation in the settings menu. As technology is advancing, including voice-over sr-only items for keyboard users and touch assistive touch for mobile devices have resulted in an enhanced level of user interactivity. The introduction of features such as audio and captions not only evade and reduce physical, social and attitudinal barriers for the disabled, but also improve the convenience to all viewers through customization. For example, the ability to listen and read the content simultaneously can deepen the understanding of complex TV show plots. In conclusion, the move from traditional television media to live streaming is inevitable and it is clear that live streaming services offer more comfort and flexibility compared to rigid and static television programs. By improving the quality and functionality of these services, users would be encouraged to transition further into a digital media platform. The boat of trend is coming, and the convenient way of watching TV shows without having to tolerate through the endless advertisements will appeal to all age groups.
Recommendations and Personalization
Another significant advantage of “Recommendations” is that the service is able to work for us. Meaning to say, you no longer have to manually browse through the lists and lists of TV shows and movies, or run a Google search to know what to watch. After you have watched a certain show to the end, you can guarantee that you’d see recommendations based on it and this does not only apply on Apple TV but also many other movie streaming services available today. For example, after watching “Stranger Things” on Netflix, the show playfully filled the screen with a big image of the kids in the show and suggested that I’d love “Stranger Things” more if I watch cute shows about kids with “strong female leads”, like Fearless and ET. All these seemed to tell me that movies and TV shows were no longer just hobbies for pastime, but my personal movie streaming and the act of watching itself already became digital pleasures personalized by data. What was surprising was the fact that there was actually a science behind the recommendations: With thousands and thousands of watchable content on every streaming service you can find today, recommender systems is the technological solution that assist us to pick out the shows and blockbusters from the millions. And the mechanism behind this is based on a branch of Artificial Intelligence called “Machine Learning”. Well from the name I feel like it’s quite self-explanatory – the movie streaming service is “learning” from the users with each of their distinctive data and use that data to generate the predictions. Instead of “exhaustively” providing every possible movie or TV episode a certain user might like, these systems try to come up with only a set of options that is most likely and that would make some sense: and this is what we call “evidence-based reasoning”. And the evidence they used for recommendations usually is what all the people tend to watch and react positively towards – this property is technically referred to as “popularity of an item”. It’s likely that you’ve seen it; Facebook does it when it suggests people to add; Amazon does it when it brings up a list of “customers who bought this, also bought”. But there are also other forms of “Machine Learning” based recommendations! For example, “Content Based Filtering” where the algorithm will look for show or movie features like genre, the cast, the director and it will find things that are really similar to the one I’ve already watched. However, I personally feel that it’s a movie streaming service, like Amazon Prime Video, oriented towards another mechanism called “Collaborative Filtering”. What happens here is that the movie streaming service will look at the set of items and it will try to find people with similar preferences that have not yet encountered with me, then it will find a disparate set of items from there.
Subscription Services and Benefits
Subscription services come with a range of benefits, with the first being that it is cost-effective. This is because it is much cheaper to pay for a single year or monthly plan than to pay for a number of individual video or music services. Using a streaming live service will also give consumers a lot of options as to what they can watch. From the latest show to that 90s music classic, because of the high competition of subscribers, the service provider will make sure to supply the latest and greatest media on the Internet. Subscription services will also provide benefits of an ad-free viewing experience. People no longer need to tolerate constant advertisements popping up every ten minutes. It seems like the world is long-waiting for the industry to move forward to the age of streaming. Another benefit of a streaming live service is that it allows the media to be streamed to multiple devices. Whether it’s a 70-inch TV set in the living room, a laptop, personal computer, a 10-inch iPad or that latest smartphone, subscribers have the flexibility of choosing where they want to watch or listen. Roku 3, for instance, is a popular live streaming player, which allows users to use their smartphone to be their remote control. Most streaming media players such as Roku, will offer private listening via a headphone so subscribers will never disturb their family members again. Last but not least, the offline viewing option should also be considered as a great benefit. As one can download media onto the device and watch them later without wifi, it is very useful when people are on a long trip or anywhere on the “world” that is non-wifi-ready. It is an ideal solution for kids on car trips, people on airplane flights, camping, traveling and so on. Therefore, live streaming services nowadays are the trend of the future media consumption – targeting no strings of wire and long-waiting of download. Excitingly, technological advances continually identify new and innovative ways to provide a cable TV alternative and to interact with media. With the likes of subscription services which offer consumers a variety of choice for music and video content, people may find their demands on traditional media reduced.
4.1 Cost-effective Entertainment
The pubs, clubs, and board games are not the only ways to get entertained in today’s era. The technology has now provided some very cost-effective and modern means of entertainment. People can now stream movies, TV shows, and podcasts on a variety of devices from the comfort of their own homes. The article has shown that the benefits of subscribing to live streaming services are also worth the money. This first corresponds with the article and the most popular subscription services as it shows us the many options for cost-effective entertainment in Singapore. Thanks to advancements in technology and improved internet speeds, video-on-demand (VOD) and time-shifted media are now becoming one of the most popular ways to get entertained. Online streaming of media is now delivered by a variety of providers; they include big names such as Netflix and Hulu, plus smaller services such as Amazon Prime and sports and movie download players. It was very surprising to see how dual-screen consumption, which gradually became a modern part of the day-to-day life. It is so popular that more than half of the internet users aged between 16 and 64 now claim to use their digital devices while watching TV, offering prime opportunities for brands to engage users with a complementary experience. Users can search to find out the true broadband in our area with multi-play services brought to us by better technology. These providers offer a great variety of multi-play, ultra-fast broadband and TV and individual cost-effective broadband plans. So as to conclude, the media landscape is changing and evolving as the demand for modern ways of digital consumption grows. The benefits of subscribing to live streaming services are well worth the money and there are so many options for cost-effective entertainment should we choose to visit Singapore.
Ad-free Viewing Experience
Subscribing to a video streaming service presents a world free of advertisements. Streamed television typically provides advertising in terms of pre-roll, post-roll, and ‘ad breaks’ during the programming. Disney+ is an example of a service that offers ‘no ads’ when you subscribe to the standard or premium plan. Whether users decide to use the service or not, the terms of Disney+ state: “There will be no pre-roll, post-roll, or other video ads provided by Disney.” As a result, users will have a peaceful, uninterrupted viewing session and the control to indulge in binge-watching at any time of the day. Such an experience is vastly different from public television, where one will be accustomed to watching advertisements during and in between programs. This is particularly helpful in creating a serene environment for homes where children require a safe and comfortable entertainment space. In addition, the alleviation of disruptive marketing strategies offers the most satisfying way to watch television shows and movies, which enhances the value and enjoyment of the content. However, it should be noted that such a view is not certain for all services. For example, Hulu, another widely popular streaming service, may still show what is commonly known as ‘obligatory pre-roll ads’, even to those who are subscribed to the ‘no commercial’ plan. Such advertisements are present in order to generate revenue for the network and to produce a fair platform for both users and content providers. Irrespective of the continual technology and benefits provided to subscribers of advertisement-free services, streaming experiences will continue to evolve and shift over time due to different factors such as user consumption habits and changing commercial needs.
Multiple Device Compatibility
When users subscribe to live streaming services, they often look for those that are compatible with different devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Users are also interested in a service that can be accessed from different types of devices without having to log in and log out numerous number of times. In this regard, most video streaming services in Singapore are compatible with various kinds of devices as long as the devices have an internet connection. The TV boxes and consoles such as Mi Box and PlayStation can also be used for some of the services. For example, Netflix can be viewed across Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Chromecast, Apple TV, Blu-ray Player, and various kinds of devices, whereas Viu can be compatible with iOS and Android operating devices. Another example is Disney+ which can be used on Smart TV, Chromecast, iPad, Xbox, PS4, and many more. This certainly brings an added advantage for users who really want to personalize their watching experience. For example, if the user is watching from a Smart TV, one can start to watch from where one left off on another tablet instantly. This is due to the fact that the advancement in cloud technology allows your preferences and progress to be saved and matched regardless of the devices being used. Every video streaming website or service has different methods to log out their accounts as well as different screenshots of the processes of logging out accounts. It can be a tedious process if the services are to be logged out each time you switch from phone to TV or from tablet to laptops. However, different from Netflix and Disney+, the interface between Viu and account settings is less user-friendly and requires a few more steps to finally log out of the account. Yet, this does not stop people from choosing the service which provides a wide range of Korean and Japanese dramas as well as variety shows.
Offline Viewing Option
Besides the ability to enjoy the video content anywhere, another outstanding feature of these live streaming and video on demand services is the option to watch the downloaded video content offline and on the go. Both Netflix and Disney+ offer the offline viewing option, which is not only practical, but also a great way to save mobile internet data or to ensure entertainment during long commutes. For instance, members can download whatever they have on their platform, and that makes a huge selection of Netflix TV shows and movies available to watch offline. As for Disney+, once subscribers download their favorite shows or movies, they are accessible and viewable across any device where Disney+ is supported. The offline viewing option allows members to download shows and movies on a maximum of up to 100 devices per Disney+ account. However, there are video download limits too. For example, the number of downloads an account can have varies according to the licensing agreement of the content providers. Also, it is important to note that the downloaded video content has a fixed amount of time that it can be accessed offline. Subscribers will need to connect the mobile, computer, or any streaming devices to the internet within the timeframe available in order to continue watching the video content. For both Netflix and Disney+, all downloads expire after a certain amount of time which varies by title. Nowadays, many live streaming services and video on demand platforms start to offer the offline viewing option, such as Viu and Amazon Prime Video. This feature certainly increases the flexibility in watching video content and is a huge selling point of any live streaming services alongside with many other features mentioned in the previous sections.