Netflix News Updates: 'Offline Mode' Not Enough For Expansion; Huge Call For Localization And Price Drop

By JC Santos | Dec 01, 2016 06:00 AM EST

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Movie and series streaming, and all-around-cure-for-boredom Netflix seeks world domination just like all tech companies. The first step was to introduce the convenience and addictive quality of streaming legally-licensed videos then introduce an offline feature to help people watch their series anywhere. The third step and further steps can be quite difficult.

Netflix addiction is certainly "en masse." In a BuzzFeed.com article, "Can We Guess Your Age And Location", the algorithm -- heavily based on their community's feedback -- focuses on fast food and a choice of Netflix flick. Anyone addicted to burgers and childish comedy the survey can judge as a 19-year-old living in Virginia. While it is highly inaccurate and obviously made for fun, Netflix's expansion and influence is increasing.

According to Business Insider, one obviously difficult step is to localize all their movies and series altogether. With a majority of movies and series in Netflix's database in English, a subtitle mode available in different languages can help it expand in Central Asia where only about 10% of the total population speaks English.

Driving down their prices can make them attractive in internet-challenged countries. One might find Netflix cheap, but if the company's competitors are illegal free-streaming websites offering the same content that are easy to access despite slow internet, they will have a challenge.

Netflix is the home of many renowned series that people "binge-watch" because of their high quality and intriguing stories. Marvel's "Jessica Jones", "Daredevil", "Luke Cage" and the upcoming "Iron Fist" fans watch on a daily or even one-time-all-episodes basis. Original series such as Netflix's own "Black Mirror" also introduce insight while being entertaining at the same time.

Netflix's hardware can be inconsistent at times but it is not the major problem for its expansion. The offline feature the company introduced is a huge help for many users with slow internet. But to expand further, it would need more effort to make its content accessible for everyone, price or hardware-wise.

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