Sept. 01--Amazon is upping the competition in video streaming by offering downloadable videos.
The e-commerce giant announced Tuesday it will let members of its $99 annual Prime loyalty program download some shows and movies to watch offline. Previously, members could only stream programs, a process which required a constant Internet connection.
Competitors such as Netflix and Hulu offer streaming only.
"There's no doubt that the way people watch entertainment is changing," Amazon's vice president of digital video, Michael Paull, said in a prepared statement. "Anytime, anywhere viewing is important."
The downloadable videos feature is available to Prime members in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Austria, and shows are downloadable to Apple and Android phones and tablets, including Amazon's Fire devices. It is not yet available for desktops or laptops. Members will also have a time limit in which to watch their downloaded videos, which will vary by title.
Movies and shows that will be available for downloading include "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "Girls," and "Veep."
