Netflix has announced that downloads for offline viewing will be made available around the world.

The streaming service posted an announcement on its website which explained that Netflix members worldwide can now download both episodes of TV series and films at no extra cost.

"While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we’ve often heard they also want to continue their Stranger Things binge while on airplanes and other places where Internet is expensive or limited," Eddy Wu, Director of Product Innovation said.

Netflix announces offline mode

"Just click the download button on the details page for a film or TV series and you can watch it later without an internet connection.

"Many of your favorite streaming series and movies are already available for download, with more on the way, so there is plenty of content available for those times when you are offline. For example, Orange is The New Black, Narcos and The Crown are available for download today."

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The new feature is included in all Netflix plans and available for phones and tablets on Android and iOS.

Early reports suggested that Netflix would commit to an offline mode in order to compete with Amazon Prime Video, despite previously labelling it a "short term fix for a bigger problem" and saying it is "never going to happen".

Netflix users have craved an offline mode for some time, which will enable them to watch more easily in areas with bad signal or during commutes. It is thought that Netflix's decision to cave ties in with its expansion into territories with less stable internet signal.