<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Netflix monthly subscription costs $9.99 for the Basic plan, $15.99 for Standard, and $19.99 for Premium.</li><li>The Standard DVD and Blu-ray plan starts at $9.99 monthly, and the Premier plan starts at $14.99.</li><li>Depending on the Netflix plan you choose, you can gain access to <keyword id="572624" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Streaming" source="Orion">streaming</keyword> on multiple screens at once.</li></ul><p>With a vast library of TV shows, movies, and original programming, most people would agree that Netflix is an essential part of the entertainment landscape.</p><p>Like its competitors, Netflix offers a variety of subscription tiers, which differ in price and features. In the US, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/does-netflix-still-mail-dvds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Netflix even still offers the ability to order DVD and Blu-ray discs in the mail</a>.</p><p>Here's a guide to what Netflix charges for each of its plans.</p><p><strong>Important:</strong> If you decide to subscribe to both a Netflix streaming and DVD plan, you'll still have to pay for each subscription in full. There's no combo plan or add-on discount.</p><h2><strong>How much Netflix costs per month</strong></h2><p>Netflix offers three streaming plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium, starting at $9.99 per month and ending at $19.99 per month. Here's what you get with each plan, and how much each one costs.</p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Subscription plan</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Monthly price</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Streaming quality</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Simultaneous streams</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Access to content</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Basic</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">$9.99</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Standard Definition (not HD)</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">One</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Every Netflix title</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Standard</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">$15.99</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">High Definition (HD)</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Two</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Every Netflix title</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Premium</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">$19.99</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">HD and 4K Ultra HD</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Four</td><td style="width: 16.6667%;">Every Netflix title</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Additionally, each Netflix plan lets you download movies and shows onto your device to watch when you don't have internet. The Basic plan lets you download onto one device at once, the Standard plan allows you two devices, and the Premium plan gives you four.</p><h2><strong>How much Netflix's DVD and Blu-ray plans cost per month</strong></h2><p>In the US, Netflix continues to offer discs by mail at <a href="https://dvd.netflix.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dvd.netflix.com</a>.</p><p>With both pricing plans, Netflix sends you discs that you can keep for as long as you want. As soon as you return that disc, Netflix immediately sends you the next disc listed in your queue. There's no limit to how many discs you can watch over time, though — the only limitation is how quickly you can watch and return discs.</p><p>You can order a massive variety of shows and movies by disc, even including some that streaming Netflix doesn't have.</p><p>Here are the pricing plans. Note that they'll differ depending on whether you want just DVDs, or both DVDs and Blu-rays.</p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 20%;">Subscription plan</td><td style="width: 20%;">Monthly price </td><td style="width: 20%;">How many discs you can have at once</td><td style="width: 20%;">How many discs can you rent per month</td><td style="width: 20%;">Late fees</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 20%;">Standard</td><td style="width: 20%;">$9.99 for DVDs and Blu-rays</td><td style="width: 20%;">One disc</td><td style="width: 20%;">Unlimited</td><td style="width: 20%;">None</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 20%;">Premier</td><td style="width: 20%;">$14.99 for DVDs and Blu-rays</td><td style="width: 20%;">Two discs</td><td style="width: 20%;">Unlimited</td><td style="width: 20%;">None</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Once you order a DVD from <a href="https://dvd.netflix.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dvd.netflix.com</a>, it'll arrive in about one to three business days. When you're done with it, just place it back in the red envelope provided and put it in the mail.</p>

How much is Netflix? A breakdown of the monthly prices for every subscription plan

<ul class="summary-list"><li>One take scenes are shot in long, unedited segments and then stitched together.</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/movies">Movies</a> like "<keyword id="6406346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="extraction">Extraction</keyword>," "<keyword id="4275121" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Atomic-Blonde">Atomic Blonde</keyword>," and "<keyword id="302094" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="SPECTRE">Spectre</keyword>" often hide the cuts by having characters walk through doorways or even walk in front of the camera.</li><li>In order to travel light and capture characters on the move, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/oscars">Oscar</a> winners "<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/1917">1917</a>" and "<keyword id="1025564" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Birdman">Birdman</keyword>" relied on small cameras and natural light.</li></ul><p><strong><em>Following is a transcript of the <keyword id="21654" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="video">video</keyword>: </em></strong></p><p>Abby Tang: This epic trench battle from "<keyword id="3012877" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="1917">1917</keyword>" was shot to look like one long take. And it was a huge challenge for both the cast and crew. It involved multiple cranes, speeding trucks, and perfectly timed handoffs. But this is just one example of a one-take scene, or a "oner," that pushed filmmakers to their limits and required impressive technical innovations. Here's how eight movie and TV scenes were shot to look like one long take.</p><p>One-take scenes are naturally suited for intense action, as you can see in this fight scene in "Atomic Blonde." Despite shooting in a real building, the crew still had to alter the set to accommodate the oner. For example, they built this elevator, which helped create a natural stitch point, a way to hide the moment the camera cuts and keep the continuous illusion going. They also used another stitching technique called body crossing, in which a cut is hidden when a performer blocks the camera, as seen here with this henchman. Because the fight was shot to look like one take, it needed to be shot in chronological order. So the effects team had to constantly apply new makeup to Charlize Theron and the other characters as the fighting continued and injuries increased. Charlize did her own stunts for a large part of this sequence. However, for some of the riskier moves, the crew subbed in her stunt double, Monique Ganderton. For example, the director used motion blur when Charlize had to fall down the stairs and slam into a wall. That's actually Monique tumbling down the stairs before switching back to Charlize hitting the wall.</p><p>Unlike "Atomic Blonde," Netflix's "Extraction" hops from location to location, as opposed to just one building. The entire sequence goes on for about 12 minutes and consists of approximately 36 segments cobbled together. The nonstop action required director Sam Hargrave to do some stunts of his own. For this car chase, he strapped himself to the hood of another vehicle and then had to quickly unstrap himself and place the camera inside the other car. He then had to replicate the same shot backwards by leaning out the car once he was inside. This helped create a natural transition point. If Sam's position was off even slightly, they'd have to shoot it all over again. Then for this shot, where Chris Hemsworth's stunt double tumbles off an awning, Sam roped himself into a pulley system to get up close to the action. The sequence also fools the eye in many other ways. For instance, when Ovi runs through this doorway, he is actually running into a room in a different building 10 blocks away. The crew had to change locations to one where there was more space to pull off the upcoming action. And like with "Atomic Blonde," they frequently swapped out Chris with his stunt double, Bobby Holland Hanton. The first shot you see here is Chris' face. They could then pan to his double without anyone noticing by shooting the back of his head.</p><p>For the Day of the Dead parade scene in "Spectre," cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema wanted to start big and then go small and intimate. That meant starting wide with parade shots, then getting in closer to the marchers before following Bond into a hotel room. To pull this off, Hoyte used a technocrane. The crane started high and then lowered down into the crowd without cutting. A Steadicam operator then jumped off, pushed farther into the crowd, and followed actor Daniel Craig up to the hotel room. While the street scenes were shot in Mexico, the hotel room was actually set in the UK. The crowd scenes featured 1,500 extras. According to ILM VFX supervisor Mark Bakowski, since they couldn't get a perfect shot where every extra looked the right way at the right time, the VFX team inserted digital masks over their faces.</p><p>Sometimes oners are limited by the space they're shot in, which means the crew needs to be a bit more creative. In the season two premiere of "The <keyword id="7948567" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Marvelous-Mrs-Maisel">Marvelous Mrs. Maisel</keyword>," cinematographer M. David Mullen had to lead the camera through a fictional department store, through a mail slot, and then into the small room where Midge Maisel works as a switchboard operator. Unlike other continuous shots, there were no wide spaces for the camera to pass through -- just five feet of space between these two rows of actresses. For both cameraperson and performer, it was about precise timing. The space was so tight that the actresses had to lean back so they wouldn't get hit by the camera. Then, when the camera went through the center of the room, actresses wheeled around in their chairs so they wouldn't block the shot.</p><p>For "Birdman," it wasn't just one scene, but the entire movie that needed to look like one long take. According to director Alejandro González Iñárritu, some of the takes were up to 20 minutes long. Because of the amount of movement in the film, "Birdman" was shot using small handheld cameras and Steadicams. These allowed the crew to more easily follow the cast as they walked through New York's crowded streets. This also meant the crew couldn't use typical large light kits. So, according to cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, they instead relied on natural and practical lights in the scene, like these colorful light bulbs above Michael Keaton and even the lights emitting from Times Square. "Birdman" wasn't just a challenge for the crew; it was also a huge endeavor for the cast. According to Emma Stone, if she flubbed even a single word, she'd have to start again from the very top.</p><p>Like "Birdman," "1917" was also filmed to look like one single take over its entire two-hour running time. But it was even more complicated due to its epic battle sequences. Pulling this film off involved the most careful planning imaginable. Every set was precisely measured out and could be no longer than the length the camera could travel. Since the crew was constantly on foot, they relied almost entirely on natural light. Look at the scene where Schofield runs through a destroyed city. It was lit up by flares in the sky. Because the flares were the main light for part of the scene, the crew needed to time exactly how long the flares needed to be in the air. They figured this out in preproduction, where they ran a light above a mini model of the set to see where exactly all the shadows would fall. Of course, the film also relied on stitch points, like here, when Blake and Schofield walk through a black curtain. But most of its magic was accomplished using innovations in technology. For example, Schofield's journey downriver was captured by a drone. Meanwhile, lighter and smaller cameras allowed the crew to move through trenches and difficult terrain with ease. Then, to get across no man's land, cinematographer Roger Deakins and the crew attached cameras to a cable system above the set. This shot, where Schofield runs through a destroyed city and jumps off a ledge and into a river, was too dangerous to do in real life. So the part of him running was shot on set, while the jump was actually shot using CGI with a swapped background that allowed for a seamless transition. Shooting continuous takes means it's hard to call "cut," so it's not ideal for making mistakes. But this moment here, where actor George MacKay runs alongside the trench and then trips, was not intentional. But in the end it felt natural, so it stayed in the movie.</p><p>The entire set for this episode of "The Haunting of Hill House" had to be built specifically to accommodate a single shot. Take a look at this elevator. It was designed to lower the cameraperson down to the next floor and allow them to capture the shot of Olivia and Hugh running down the stairs without a break. Because the camera goes between Hill House and the funeral home in the episode, the two stages were actually built adjacent to each other and connected by a hallway. This allowed the camera to follow Hugh as he walked directly from the funeral home into the house. Oners are frantic by nature, and they involve a lot of movement and setup changes. The "Hill House" set had places throughout for the crew and their equipment to hide whenever the camera turned in their direction. Like with "Birdman" and "1917," "Hill House" also demonstrated the challenges of lighting a oner. If an actor missed a cue, they wouldn't be lit properly. So series creator Mike Flanagan came up with a unique solution. When he clapped these two wood blocks together, the cast member knew what to do. [blocks clapping]</p><p>One-take scenes aren't just used to show movement from place to place. They can also be really useful in showing the passage of time. This scene from the Showtime series "Kidding" shows the character Shaina watching "Mr. Pickles' Puppet Time" on her TV as her life progresses and improves around her. The shot captures five years of her life over the course of one minute and 42 seconds. Because the camera had to circle constantly around the room as it changed, this endeavor was an absolute mad rush for the cast and crew. To show the passage of time, the camera operators circled around the room. Each area of the room would show a new development in Shaina's life. So whenever the camera wasn't focused on them, the 50 crew members had to swap out furniture and bring in new props. Then this wall slid over into the kitchen. While that was happening, actress Riki Lindhome had to go through multiple costume changes, some of which involved using a body double.</p><p>What are some of your favorite one-take scenes? Let us know in the comments.</p>

How 8 TV and movie scenes were shot to look like one take

This season of 'The Great British Baking Show' was a drama-filled disaster. Here's a timeline of all the controversies.

<ul><li>Disney+ <keyword id="2739840" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hotstar">Hotstar</keyword>, <keyword id="2976376" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Prime-Video">Amazon Prime Video</keyword>, Netflix and 13 other large OTT players in India have signed a <keyword id="9906478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="self-regulation-code">self regulation code</keyword> to govern content on their platform. </li><li>While self-regulation has been successful in some instances, in the online world the Facebook and Twitter story has not inspired confidence so far. </li><li>Whether or not the government will choose to intervene will depend on the success of how the new self regulation code is enforced. </li></ul>Content providers in India may have signed a self-regulation code at the government’s behest but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be free from scrutiny in the future. A lot depends on the success of their new regulation framework.<br /><br />It could either go the way of Facebook and Twitter where the self-imposed policies are in place, but enforcement, loopholes, and biases, has many wanting for more accountability. <br /><br />“Any failure to comply with the same can lead to future government intervention,” Rajat Prakash, a managing partner at Athena Legal told Business Insider.<br /><br />Or, since it’s one common code adopted by 15 large OTT players — including the big wigs like <keyword id="758541" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Prime">Amazon Prime</keyword>, Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix and Zee5 — experts believe it could have a higher chance of success.<br /><br />“The code provides for a self regulation framework, and as such will not have legislative force. However, a self regulatory approach is not unprecedented and has been successfully adopted by several other industry sectors in the past, like advertising,” said Tanu Banerjee, a partner at IndusLaw.<br /><br /><strong>What is the self regulation code adopted by <keyword id="5293670" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="OTT-platforms">OTT platforms</keyword> in India?<br /></strong>The self regulation code came into effect last month on August 15. It proposes a set of guidelines with respect to age classification, content descriptions, and access controls. All the OTT players who have signed the code are expected to adhere to the same guidelines. <br /><br />Individually, each OTT player will be required to set up a consumer complaints department. This will be the point of contact for consumers or anyone looking to cite a concern in regard to any of the content on the platform. <br /><br />An overarching advisory panel will also be set up consisting of an independent member — one who has no association with the OTT platform. This panel will advise the internal committee on decisions and issues.<br /><br /><strong>What does the government want?<br /></strong>With theatres closed and nobody looking to step out of their house more than they have to, movies are being released directly onto OTT platforms. This means they are not required to have a Central Board of Film Certification, hence no rating, which is why the Information and Broadcast (I&amp;B) Ministry has been pushing to take over jurisdiction from the <keyword id="3428254" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-electronics-and-information-technology">Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</keyword> (MeitY). <br /><br />According to the I&amp;B Ministry, OTT platforms should be held to the same standards at films and television rather than being allowed to have a free reign.<br /><br />MeitY, on the other hand, argues that the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000 and its intermediary guidelines governed the conduct for all third party content already overseas content pushed by OTTs. <br /><br />“OTT content does fall under the Information Technology Act of 2000, however, there is no separate regulation for OTT contents. The act does have provisions that allow the government to apply penalty and imprisonment for publishing or transmitting obscene and sexually explicit material,” explained Banerjee.<br /><br />The ask to set up a Digital Content Complaints Committee (DCCC), which is a part of the new self regulation code, was put forth by I&amp;B. The aim of the DCC is to target content that harms national sovereignty, promotes violence against children, promotes terrorism, or content banned by court order. <br /><br />"In order to make a complaint no legal notice is required, a viewer can make a complaint giving his details and nature of the complaint against specific content," explained Prakash.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/netflix-and-hotstar-hedge-their-bets-against-government-regulation-through-self-censorship/articleshow/67573187.cms">After Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hotstar plan to go down the path of self-censorship in India</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/ad-tech/news/netflix-disney-hotstar-amazon-prime-video-mx-player-and-11-other-leading-ott-players-have-signed-a-self-regulation-code/articleshow/77935257.cms">Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, MX Player and 11 other leading OTT players sign self-regulation code</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/disneyhotstar-set-to-become-the-second-most-expensive-ott-platform-in-india/articleshow/74945301.cms">Disney+ Hotstar Premium set to become the second most expensive OTT subscription in India</a></strong><br />

Self regulation code adopted by Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video and other OTT platforms could either be a huge success — or go the Facebook-Twitter way

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Netflix is notifying <keyword id="66720" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="users">users</keyword> about inactive <keyword id="6374937" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="accounts">accounts</keyword> and deleting <keyword id="786632" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="subscriptions">subscriptions</keyword> for those who don't respond.</li><li>Users can reactivate their account within 10 months if they want to keep the same profile.</li></ul><p>Getting charged for under-the-radar account subscriptions, especially ones you no longer use, is always a nightmare.</p><p>That's why Netflix is adopting an unexpected <keyword id="28351" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="policy">policy</keyword> of canceling account subscriptions that have been inactive for more than two years.</p><p>The company announced Thursday it will notify users who haven't watched anything in the past year if they would like to keep their account. Netflix will shut off users' accounts who don't respond.</p><p>"We've always thought it should be easy to sign up and to cancel," Eddy Wu, who oversees product innovation Netflix, <a href="https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/helping-members-who-havent-been-watching-cancel">said in a blog post</a>. "So, as always, anyone who cancels their account and then rejoins within 10 months will still have their favorites, profiles, viewing preferences and account details just as they left them."</p><p>The company's new policy, far from the norm for subscription services, appears to be a relatively low-cost move that will undoubtedly foster good will among cord cutters and help further differentiate the streaming platform from cable TV, which is notorious for unexpected fees. According to Wu, inactive accounts make up less than 0.5% of the company's customer base — a few hundred thousand accounts — and dropping the accounts have already been noted in the company's financial plans.</p><p>Netflix counts itself among the businesses that are booming during the coronavirus pandemic and remains a popular streaming option, not only because of its user-friendly policies such as ending unused subscriptions, but also its strong lineup of original content and its lack of commercials, which can save users <a href="https://www.reviews.com/entertainment/streaming/netflix-hours-of-commercials-analysis/">the equivalent of nine days a year.</a></p>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-cancels-subscriptions-not-being-used-after-2-years-2020-5">Business Insider</a>

Netflix is rolling out an unexpected policy that will save forgetful people money — shutting down accounts that aren't being used

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"Bridgerton" and "Stranger Things" have been battling out for the title of Netflix's biggest TV series.</li><li>Both series have two seasons on the streamer's most popular English TV show list.</li></ul><p>"<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bridgerton-and-queen-charlotte-best-viewing-method-2024-5">Bridgerton</a>" may overtake "Stranger Things" as Netflix's biggest TV series after season three gained <a target="_blank" href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/top-10-week-of-may-13-bridgerton-season-3-crowned-1">45 million views</a> in one week.</p><p>"Bridgerton" and "Stranger Things," Netlfix's global juggernauts, have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stranger-things-on-pace-top-bridgerton-viewership-2022-6">battling</a> for that title for the last four years.</p><p>In 2021, "Bridgerton" became Netflix's most-watched TV series, a month after the first season's release, with 82 million views. "Stranger Things" season four, released in 2022, was the first show to smash this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stranger-things-season-4-viewership-breaks-netflix-record-2022-6">record</a>, scoring 140 million total views and more than a billion hours viewed.</p><p>Currently, both shows have 2 seasons on the list of Netflix's top 10 most popular English TV shows of all time — seasons three and four of "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stranger-things-season-5-details-premiere-duffer-brothers-2022-7">Stranger Things</a>" are in the 8th and 2nd position, respectively, while seasons one and two of "Bridgerton" are 4th and 9th.</p><p>If "Bridgerton" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bridgerton-season-3-part-1-finale-interview-polin-kanthony-2024-5">season three</a> makes the top 10, it would be the first show to have three seasons on the most popular list and become Netflix's most-watched TV series.</p><p>With 45 million views in one week, "Bridgerton" is already more than halfway to reaching the goal. "The Witcher" season one, which is in the 10th spot on the most popular list, only has 83 million views.</p><p>It's also worth noting that half of "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bridgerton-season-three-part-one-ending-explained-carriage-scene-book-2024-4">Bridgerton</a>" season three has yet to be released. For the first time for the show, Netflix split the release of the season into two, with the second half premiering on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bridgerton-season-3-part-2-release-date-details-2024-5">June 13</a>.</p><p>Netflix used the same strategy for "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stranger-things-watch-teaser-for-season-4-part-2-2022-5">Stranger Things</a>" season four, which stretched the show's shelf life and likely pushed it to beat "Bridgerton" season one.</p><p>The split release method could put "Bridgerton" season three above "Stranger Things" season four if it gains an additional 100 million views over the next month.</p><p>"<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-biggest-tv-shows-ever-ranked-the-witcher-squid-game-2022-1">Wednesday</a>" and "Squid Game" have the most-watched seasons for the streamer. The first seasons for both shows gained more than 250 million views.</p><p>But until Netflix releases <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/squid-game-season-2-release-date-premiere-lee-jung-jae-2024-5">another season</a> for both series, it is too early to tell if they will join the race to become the streamer's biggest TV series.</p>

'Bridgerton' is on track to dethrone 'Stranger Things' as Netflix's biggest TV series       

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Netflix launched its video game streaming service in November 2021, investing in mobile app games.</li><li>The streaming giant has since purchased multiple development studios and increased gaming-focused staff.</li></ul><p>As Netflix chases younger audiences and grapples with keeping its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-netflix-user-subscriber-demographic-millennial-age-political-views-income-2021-9">current subscribers</a> content, the streaming giant has fixed its sights on a new chapter: video games.</p><p>As competitors like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/hbo-max-streaming-service">HBO's Max</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/streaming-services-ad-tiers-hulu-disney-netflix-increase-ads-2023-5">Disney+</a> have launched and rebranded in recent years, limiting the number of offerings available on Netflix as each network creates its central hub of content, the OG-streaming service has had to pivot once again to thinking of its next chapter, this time investing heavily in the world of interactive entertainment.</p><p>"We compete with (and lose to) Fortnite more than HBO," the company <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23878457-netflix-q418-shareholder-letter?responsive=1&amp;title=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in its 2019 earnings report, referencing the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fortnite-most-influential-video-game-decade-2019-12">viral online gaming sensation</a>. </p><p>In late 2021, Netflix began dabbling in creating its mobile app games. The company brought on dozens of new hires and created a dedicated studio in Helsinki, Finland, to create new streaming game titles, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-mobile-games-hiring-new-jobs-finland-studio-2022-9">Insider reported.</a></p><p>On Wednesday, <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/oxenfree-ii-lost-signals-night-school-a-netflix-game-studio">Netflix</a> released its latest title, a graphic adventure game developed by Night School Studio, called "OXENFREE II: Lost Signals." The sequel game to the hit supernatural thriller point-and-click is available on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/netflix-games">Netflix's mobile app</a> and Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. </p><p>Representatives for Netflix did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-play-netflix-games-mobile-downloads-top-title-2022-2">pivot to video games</a> comes as Netflix's growth has slowed tremendously — according to records kept by <a href="https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/nflx/revenue/">Stock Analysis</a>, the company's annual growth had never been below 12% until last year. In 2022, though revenue was at a record $31.62 billion, the company ended its year with just 6.46% growth, down from 18.81% in 2021 and 24.01% in 2020. </p><p>It remains unclear whether Netflix's latest venture will succeed, especially with other companies like Google shuttering its own game streaming service after <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/technology/google-to-shut-down-stadia-video-game-streaming-service.html">less than three years</a>, but the company has pioneered before: In 2007, Netflix spearheaded the entire entertainment industry's switch to streaming.</p><p>So far, Netlfix's slow and steady pace, especially compared to its competitors, appears to be working to its advantage with creators, <a href="https://www.theringer.com/video-games/2023/7/14/23793669/netflix-video-games-oxenfree-ii-streaming-cloud-gaming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ringer</a> reported.</p><p>Night School Studio was Netflix's first gaming studio acquisition, purchased in September of 2021, a month after the streamer launched two pilot games that were tie-ins to the "Stranger Things" series, <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/oxenfree-ii-lost-signals-night-school-a-netflix-game-studio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TechCrunch</a> reported.</p><p>"We've seen many players come into the space and attempt to take a big swing," The Ringer reported Sean Krankel, founder of Night School, said this week. "[We heard] early on that the approach was going to be very careful and measured and that it would not be, 'Let's climb to the top of the mountain and plant a Netflix flag in there and [say] we're changing the industry.'"</p>

Netflix sets its sights on video games for its next chapter as growth slows for the streaming giant

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In February 1981, Diana Spencer revealed her now-iconic sapphire-and-diamond <keyword id="439671" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Engagement-ring">engagement ring</keyword> from Prince Charles to the world.</li><li>The story behind the ring has come back into focus as a storyline in season 4 of Netlfix's hit series "The Crown."</li><li>Diana's ring came from royal jeweler Garrard, as depicted in the show; however, accounts about why Diana chose to the ring, and if she even chose the ring, vary.</li><li>The ring was an stock item from a catalog, according to royal <keyword id="31199" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jewelry">jewelry</keyword> historian Lauren Kiehna, and could have been ordered by anyone.</li></ul><p>On February 24, 1981, <keyword id="28540" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Princess-Diana">Princess Diana</keyword> - then Lady Diana Spencer - and Prince Charles announced their engagement with a series of portraits taken outside of Buckingham Palace.</p><p>Wearing a bright blue skirt suit, Diana showed off her sizable sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring.</p><p>Thanks to season four of Netflix's "The Crown," the story behind the now-iconic ring has come back into focus.</p><p>In episode three, "<a href="https://www.netflix.com/watch/80215490?trackId=13752289&amp;tctx=0%2C0%2C828191549a23e93b93412f8c9197225dc8394f26%3Aeb6753f68653ba2a8975f7aea33f1c7ef986b458%2C828191549a23e93b93412f8c9197225dc8394f26%3Aeb6753f68653ba2a8975f7aea33f1c7ef986b458%2Cunknown%2Cn%2C">Fairytale</a>," the Queen presents Diana with a selection of <keyword id="1131733" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="engagement-rings">engagement rings</keyword> following Charles' proposal in early February. The options include a selection of family heirlooms and rings for purchase. Diana chooses a blue-and-white sparkler by royal jeweler Garrard.</p><p>When she picks out her ring, Charles jokes that Diana chose it because it was the most expensive.</p><p>"And you like that one because?" the Queen asks Diana.</p><p>Diana responds: "Because it reminds me of my mother's engagement ring, and it's the same color as my eyes."</p><div type="image" title="Season 3 Fairytale The Crown Netflix" height="1216" width="1621" msid="79616446" hostid="261"></div><p>In real life, the ring did come from <a href="https://garrard.com/the-house/journal/how-the-most-famous-engagement-ring-in-the-world-inspired-garrards-much-loved-1735-collection/">Garrard</a>, which had served as the official jeweler of the monarchy since 1843.</p><p>However, there are varying accounts about why Diana picked the ring and whether Diana actually picked it out herself, according to "The Crown" lead researcher Annie Sulzberger.   </p><p>"There are a few different theories as to why Diana selected the ring: the color matched her eyes, the Queen may have actually selected it, or as Diana was later quoted as saying, 'It was the biggest,'" Sulzberger told <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/princess-diana-engagement-ring-the-crown">Vogue UK</a>. "Others claim that it simply reminded her of her mother's engagement ring."</p><p>Diana's ring was technically available as a <a href="http://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2016/05/kates-jewelry-box-sapphire-and-diamond_29.html">stock item</a> from the jeweler's catalog, according to The Court Jeweller, a blog about royal jewelry written by historian Lauren Kiehna.</p><p>This means that anyone could have purchased it, but they would have needed to cut a large check.</p><p>Consisting of a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire ring surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, <a href="https://garrard.com/the-house/journal/how-the-most-famous-engagement-ring-in-the-world-inspired-garrards-much-loved-1735-collection/">the ring</a> was not inexpensive, though estimates of how much the ring cost in 1981 vary.</p><p>One of the lower estimates by The Court Jeweller is £28,500, or somewhere between $62,800 and $67,000 at the time, based on February 1981 exchange rates published on <a href="https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/bank-of-england-spot/historical-spot-exchange-rates/gbp/GBP-to-USD-1981">Pound Sterling Live</a>.</p><p>That's the equivalent of £110,068 in 2019, according to the Bank of England's <a href="https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator">inflation calculator</a>, or somewhere around $140,600, based on the <a href="https://www.exchangerates.org.uk/GBP-USD-spot-exchange-rates-history-2019.html#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20British%20Pound,rate%20in%202019%3A%201.2772%20USD.">average pound-to-US dollar exchange rate in 2019</a>.</p><p>Then again, it's hard to put a price tag on something that has achieved legendary status.</p><p>The ring has ties to royalty even beyond Diana.</p><p>Its sapphire-and-diamond combination was a nod to a brooch owned by the late Queen Victoria, also designed by Garrard, the jeweler <a href="https://garrard.com/the-house/a-royal-legacy/">writes</a> on its website. Prince Albert gifted her the brooch on their wedding day in 1840.</p><p>The ring is now worn by Kate Middleton, wife of Diana's son Prince William, and its passing-down sparked a frenzy in the jewelry world.</p><p>Three months after William and Kate announced their proposal on November 16, 2010, the Natural Sapphire Company reported a 300% increase in sapphire sales, per <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/janelee/2011/02/07/kate-middleton-engagement-ring-spurs-sapphire-sales-2/?sh=3bda944d378c">Forbes</a>. The company was a supplier to high-end stores such as Tiffany &amp; Co. and Cartier at the time, Forbes reported.</p><div type="image" title="princess diana kate middleton engagement ring" height="1500" width="2000" msid="79616447" hostid="261"></div><p>The Diana ring is "beautiful," Claire Scott, Head of Design at Garrard, says in a <a href="https://garrard.com/the-house/journal/something-blue-a-royal-love-story/">blog post</a> by the jeweler. "The proportions and the size of the diamonds work very well together."</p><p>For those looking to get their hands on a similar piece, Garrard currently <a href="https://garrard.com/1735-oval-diamond-blue-sapphire-ring">sells</a> a sapphire ring set in platinum and surrounded by white diamonds. It's available to US buyers for $15,603, or £11,667.</p><div type="image" title="Garrard 1735 Oval Sapphire Ring screenshot" height="742" width="1357" msid="79616448" hostid="261"></div><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/royal-engagement-rings-2017-8#princess-diana-picked-out-her-own-sapphire-engagement-ring-from-a-garrard-catalogue-4">The most extravagant royal engagement rings of all time</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/princess-diana-new-york-carlyle-hotel-the-crown-royal-family-2020-11">Inside the famously discreet New York City hotel known as the 'Palace of Secrets' frequented by Princess Diana</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-crown-netflix-true-story-princess-diana-1983-australia-tour-2020-11">Photos show the true story behind Princess Diana's famous Australia tour featured on 'The Crown'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-crown-netflix-princess-diana-new-york-city-tour-1989-2020-11">Photos show the true story behind Princess Diana's famous New York City visit featured on 'The Crown'</a></li></ul>

The true story behind Princess Diana's iconic engagement ring shown on 'The Crown'

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57b1e88bdd089561368b4632-2400/stranger things.jpg" alt="Stranger Things" data-mce-source="Netflix" /><p class="source"><span>Netflix</span></p><p class="caption">From left, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, and Millie Bobby Brown on Netlfix's "Stranger Things."</p></div><p></p></div></div>Once in a blue moon, magic happens and a star is born. That's the case with Netflix's newest hit series, "Stranger Things."</p><p><span>The first season of the series, set in the 1980s, from brothers Matt and Ross Duffer ("Wayward Pines")</span><span>, follows the disappearance of a young boy, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), and the monstrous chain of events it launches in the small town.</span></p><p>Viewers weren't just enraptured in the series' references to some of the most memorable movies in cinema, but also they fell in love with the show's cast, especially its young stars.</p><p><span>"A<span>ll the kids are getting tons of praise for feeling 'real</span>,'" Carmen Cuba, the casting director on "Stranger Things," told the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-casting-director-carmen-cuba-20160825-snap-story.html" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times</a> of the young actors' newfound fame.</span></p><p><span><span>Who are these kids and what's next for the talented bunch?</span></span></p><p><strong>Here's a quick look at the young breakout stars of "Stranger Things":</strong></p>

Everything you need to know about the breakout stars of Netflix's 'Stranger Things'

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55c279502acae72d5f8bcf1d-1800-1196/reed.jpg" alt="reed hastings netflix" data-mce-source="Elizabeth Fuentes/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Elizabeth Fuentes/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Netflix CEO Reed Hastings</p></div><p></p></div></div>Netflix will no longer be able to show several high-profile Hollywood movies to US viewers, including recent versions of Transformers and Hunger Games, because its distribution deal with a cable network is not being renewed, <a href="http://recode.net/2015/08/30/netflix-is-losing-more-hollywood-movies-and-it-says-youll-be-ok-with-that/">according to a Recode report.</a></p><p>Netlfix is not renewing its 5-year deal with Epix, Recode reports, noting that the online video streaming service believes its recent original content efforts are more important. </p><p><span>"Our focus has shifted to provide great movies and TV series for our members that are exclusive to Netflix," a Netflix spokesperson told Recode. </span></p><p><span>Netflix has stepped up efforts in recent years to develop its own original television shows, such as popular series "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards," as well as feature-length films. </span></p><p><span>Epix is pay TV network owned by MGM, Lion's Gate Entertainment and Viacom's Paramount. Among the films that Netflix will no longer provide US customers at the end of September are "Transformers: Age of Extinction," "Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and "World War Z," Recode reports. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sharks-spotted-coast-england-2015-7">People were baffled by 50 sharks circling in shallow waters off the English coast</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="R1c2tjdjrwFAGrHUqd0W71KfHPLzHONw" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'R1c2tjdjrwFAGrHUqd0W71KfHPLzHONw',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Some Hollywood blockbuster movies are about to disappear from Netflix

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/576d5101dd08951a4e8b46f2-1920/bojack-horseman-internet-laptop.png" alt="bojack horseman internet laptop" data-mce-source="Netflix" /><p class="source"><span>Netflix</span></p><p class="caption">Netflix's original series "Bojack Horseman"</p></div><p></p></div></div>For years, Netflix had the same response when asked if it would ever let users download videos to watch offline: Nope.</p><p>Even as recently as last fall, <a href="http://gizmodo.com/the-real-reason-netflix-wont-offer-offline-downloads-1729146143">Netflix's chief product officer Neil Hunt told Gizmodo</a> that allowing users to download videos for offline viewing would be unnecessarily complicated and would detract from Netflix's core mission of offering everything you want on demand.</p><p>But Netflix started changing its tune this April, when <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/reed-hasting-comments-on-netflix-offline-viewing-2016-4">CEO Reed Hastings didn't exactly deny the possibility of allowing offline video</a>. He left it wide open.</p><p><span>"We should keep an open mind on all this… as we expand around the world where we see an uneven set of networks, it's something we should keep an open mind about," Hastings said on the company's earnings call.</span></p><p><span>Now it sounds like Netflix is inching even closer.</span></p><p><span>On Thursday, Light Reading, an industry trade publication, <a href="http://www.lightreading.com/video/multi-screen-video/netflix-queues-up-video-downloads/d/d-id/724286">came out with a report</a> claiming that Netflix would start allowing offline viewing as early as this year, based on comments from the COO of Penthera, a company that helps deliver online video for companies like Starz, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable. </span></p><p><span>It sounds like a bunch of industry scuttlebutt and gossip, but it did prompt a response from Netflix that still left the possibility of offline viewing open.</span></p><p><span>"While our focus remains on delivering a great streaming experience, we are always exploring ways to make the service better. We don't have anything to add at this time," <a href="http://www.lightreading.com/video/multi-screen-video/netflix-queues-up-video-downloads/d/d-id/724286">a spokesperson told Light Reading</a>.</span></p><p><span>That's not a denial!</span></p><p><span>So, over the last several months we've seen Netflix go from completely shutting down any notion of offline viewing to leaving the possibility open. When asked about that shift in thinking, a Netflix spokesperson declined to comment to Tech Insider.</span></p><p><span>It'd also be a welcome change for Netlfix as others have allowed offline viewing, most notably Amazon Video. It's especially useful on airplanes or when you're out and about and don't have access to WiFi. Netflix and other streaming video servic can eat up your cellular data plan pretty quickly.</span></p><p><span>Of course, there would be a bunch of caveats to offline viewing on Netflix. </span><span>There would likely be restrictions like there are on Amazon Video.</span></p><p><span>For example, Amazon's rules only give you a day or two to watch a downloaded video once you press play, depending on the deal Amazon has with the content provider. You're also limited to how many videos you can have on your device at a time. Netflix may be more lenient with its own original content, but it'd have to hammer out deals with all of its other content providers too.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-hidden-categories-2016-6">How to find Netflix's secret categories</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="VlZjM2MDE6YhzeEmGWLIfJXnPkAikBM-" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'VlZjM2MDE6YhzeEmGWLIfJXnPkAikBM-',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Netflix appears to be changing its mind about watching videos offline

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5894c3eb3149a119008b509a-1067/undefined" alt="santa clarita diet review netflix" data-mce-source="Erica Parise/Netflix" data-mce-caption="Drew Barrymore plays an undead suburban housewife on &amp;quotSanta Clarita Diet.&quot;"><p class="source"><span>Erica Parise/Netflix</span></p><p class="caption">Drew Barrymore plays an undead suburban housewife on "Santa Clarita Diet."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Netlfix's new zombie comedy, "Santa Clarita Diet," really benefits from binge-watching.<p>I say that because the premiere episode is not good. If the show, which premieres on Friday, were on some kind of weekly schedule, I wouldn't be back for for the second episode. Thankfully for "Santa Clarita Diet," Netflix is about binge-watching and there's a marked improvement from the first episode to the second, which are both directed&#xa0;by&#xa0;<span>Ruben Fleischer ("Zombieland"),</span>&#xa0;and that may hook viewers. Smartly, Netflix sent critics the entire first season of 10 episodes to review.</p><p>Created by Victor Fresco ("Better Off Ted"), "Santa Clarita Diet" stars Drew Barrymore, who is also an executive producer, as suburban wife and mom Sheila; Timothy Olyphant as her husband Joel; and Liv Hewson as their teen daughter Abby. They live in the cookie-cutter city of Santa Clarita, a suburb about an hour north of Los Angeles for those who want to escape the urban jungle and raise their family.</p><p>Reserved and skittish when we first meet her, Sheila&#xa0;begins to feel ill. As her illness escalates, so does her impulse to act on her raw desires. She's diagnosed as undead by the geeky boy across the street, Eric (endearingly played by Skyer Gisondo). Sheila pulls&#xa0;her family into the spiral of finding ways to satiate her hunger for human&#xa0;flesh while upholding the appearance of normalcy that defines Santa Clarita.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5894c7e16e09a8c1078b4f52-1068/undefined" alt="Santa Clarita Diet review 2 netflix" data-mce-source="Saeed Adyani / Netflix" data-mce-caption="&amp;quotSanta Clarita Diet&quot; stars from left, Drew Barrymore, Skyler Gisondo, Timothy Olyphant, and Liv Hewson."><p class="source"><span>Saeed Adyani / Netflix</span></p><p class="caption">"Santa Clarita Diet" stars from left, Drew Barrymore, Skyler Gisondo, Timothy Olyphant, and Liv Hewson.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>The problems with the first episode include a search for the right balance between a gory zombie show and family comedy. Barrymore and Olyphant don't help matters. She seems a little too flippant about her zombie transformation and Olyphant, a veteran of dramas like "Deadwood," is way too intense in moments.<p>Plus, if we're to make the connection between being undead and the monotony of suburban life, then we need to get a better feel for that life. Are they unhappy with their marriage? Is the sex bad? Will Sheila&#xa0;lose it after one more PTA bake sale? How bad are their jobs as real-estate agents? The opening episode has to establish Sheila's malady (in a whole lot of disgusting ways) so quickly that we don't really get a sense of any of that.</p><p>Things begin to fall into place on the episodes that follow as Barrymore and Olyphant sink into their roles. She gets to play to her goofy and irreverent side and Olyphant's inclination for severity&#xa0;begins to fit the situation better. That's not to say that the show's problems get ironed out, but there's great improvement.</p><p>Through it all, Hewson as daughter Abby is a pretty solid player and makes the most sense in the context of the show. Like a teen who decides nothing really matters when there's trouble at home, Abby begins to withdraw from school and follow her wilder side.</p><p>Fans of the zombie-comedy genre&#xa0;will enjoy the show's more gory and disgusting elements. Sheila vomits... a lot, tears into people with her teeth, and does things like point to part of a man's severed arm and say, "This is the filet mignon for humans." The show is vague about what exactly&#xa0;caused Sheila's transformation, so zombie aficionados may enjoy theorizing about that.</p><p>In the end,&#xa0;"Santa Clarita" is both a zombie show and a comment on suburban life, though it never quite nails either tone. It's best when it plays to the comedy/heist/murder elements of both keeping Sheila's hunger at bay and hiding her strange secret from the neighbors.</p><p><strong>Watch a trailer for "Santa Clarita Diet" below:</strong></p><div><iframe width="800" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xjRnbOgoAUQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/animated-map-most-popular-show-netflix-every-state-2017-1">Animated map shows the most popular show on Netflix in every state</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="c3MmsyOTE6PU46a8dzMPtmdK_clmBuCd" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'c3MmsyOTE6PU46a8dzMPtmdK_clmBuCd',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Netflix's new Drew Barrymore zombie show 'Santa Clarita Diet' is a gory, disgusting mess

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55e6293fbd86ef1b008b7757-2946-2210/bezos-15.jpg" alt="Jeff Bezos" data-mce-source="Mike Segar/REUTERS" /><p class="source"><span>Mike Segar/REUTERS</span></p><p class="caption">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos</p></div><p></p></div></div>Amazon just announced a video streaming perk that Netflix has sworn it would never allow. </p><p>If you're one of the approximately 40 to 60 million people who pay for Prime, Amazon's $99-a-year membership club, you can now download movies and TV shows on your smartphone or tablet for offline viewing.</p><p>This is really handy if you're taking a plane trip and don't want to pay for Wi-Fi, or you know you're going to be somewhere else where wireless is not available.</p><p>Previously, Amazon only offered this feature for people who owned one of its line of Fire tablets, but it now applies to Android and Apple devices too. Not all of the video on Amazon Prime Video is available for offline viewing, but a pretty hefty selection is (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1003016691">check out the list here</a>).</p><p>Late last year,<a href="http://www.techradar.com/us/news/video/netflix-offline-viewing-is-never-going-to-happen--1277413"> a Netflix exec told TechRadar</a> that offline viewing was "never going to happen" for its service. Netflix argues that being able to download videos for offline viewing is a short-term fix for the long-term problem of spotty Wi-fi availability. </p><p class="p1">A netlfix spokesperson confirms that it doesn't plan on offering offline viewing.</p><p class="p1">"With Internet speeds climbing and WiFi available in more and more places, the ability to stream live wherever you are will make downloading less relevant over time. Our focus is on delivering a great streaming experience. "</p><p>This capability is Amazon's latest attempt to make its membership club more attractive. After Amazon spent more than $100 million on original video content last year, CEO Jeff Bezos put it bluntly when talking about Prime's award-winning show "Transparent": Amazon is the first company to <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/amazon-prime-day-ceo-jeff-808535" target="_blank">use a Golden Globe to sell toilet paper</a>. </p><p>In other words, Amazon loses a lot of money on the TV and music streaming services, but it has built them up to make Prime more addictive. Users are more likely to fork over the big bucks if they already pay for Prime: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-members-may-spend-more-than-double-what-non-members-do-2015-1" target="_blank">Members may spend more than double</a> on the site per year than non-members do, according to <a href="https://files.ctctcdn.com/150f9af2201/bf283d9e-4cbb-4306-8645-b2dc9a16d805.pdf" target="_blank">an analysis from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners</a> in January. </p><p>Although Amazon Prime Video still doesn't offer as many options as Netflix, the company made sure to highlight the fact that some of the movies available for offline streaming - like "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" - are ones that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-analysts-not-bothered-by-end-of-netflix-epix-deal-2015-8">Netflix will be losing</a> because it didn't renew its five-year deal with Epix, a cable network that previously allowed the service to offer a bunch of blockbuster films. </p><p class="tagline">Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through hispersonal investment company Bezos Expeditions.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/guy-invents-drill-powered-walking-machine-2015-7">This guy built a walking machine powered by a hand drill</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Y2MHE4djpuBAyKj7UIaNX1oQEbIRcv51" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'Y2MHE4djpuBAyKj7UIaNX1oQEbIRcv51',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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