iWorld
View Netflix offline now, or YouTube & Amazon
MUMBAI: Netflix fans in India are in a state of euphoria. The subscription-based VOD service will now allow its users to download some of its shows and films, and watch them offline.
Users can download and keep select television shows and movie for offline viewing. Not every show and movie in its catalogue is included, however. Considering the poor internet connectivity issues in India, this addition by Netflix comes as a boon for its subscribers. According to an official announcement, the feature is rolling out worldwide, and Netflix won’t be charging anything extra for the download.
Many of its series and films are available for download, including originals like Stranger Things, Orange Is the New Black, The Crown and House of Cards.
Though, shows like BBC’s Sherlock series or the Disney’s animated hit Zootopia or Netflix originals like The Little Prince film, etc. aren’t available to watch offline. Netflix said more downloadable titles are on the way.
Rivals with offline viewing such as YouTube, Amazon Prime and Hungama Play have become more competitive. Hungama Play offers the same feature where viewers can enjoy content on the go and offline which was introduced in August 2016. Apart from its diverse content library, the video-on-demand platform aims to add five original series by March 2017.
As for Netflix, members need to update their app and look for an arrow symbol next to a title to indicate downloading. Subscribers can also look to a new category on the Netflix app’s side menu called “Available for Download,” which collects all the programs you can watch offline.
The app update is available for both Apple iOS and Google Android devices.
iWorld
Mastercard expands concert series with comedy and music format
Vir Das, Zakir Khan and Papon headline multi-city shows across India.
MUMBAI: From punchlines to power chords, the stage is getting a genre upgrade. Mastercard has unveiled the next phase of its multi-city concert series in India, blending stand-up comedy with live music in a format that mirrors the country’s evolving entertainment tastes. The new line-up brings together a diverse mix of performers, including comedians Vir Das and Zakir Khan, alongside singer Papon. The shift marks a departure from earlier editions that were primarily music-led, featuring global and Indian acts such as Enrique Iglesias, A. R. Rahman and Sunidhi Chauhan.
Curated in collaboration with Tribe Vibe and EVA Live, the expanded series is designed to create a broader cultural platform that brings humour, storytelling and music into a single live experience.
Vir Das will kick off the comedy segment in New Delhi with four shows across two days at Yashobhoomi on 9 and 10 May. Meanwhile, Zakir Khan is set for an extended run in Mumbai, with nine shows scheduled at Dome SVP Stadium across 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20 June, with additional dates expected.
On the music front, Papon will headline a six-city tour, beginning in Chandigarh on 16 May, followed by Ahmedabad on 29 May and Lucknow on 30 May. The tour will then move to Bengaluru on 6 June, Hyderabad on 7 June, and conclude in Indore on 14 June.
The series continues to offer exclusive benefits for Mastercard cardholders, including priority ticket access and premium lounge experiences at venues positioning the platform as both an entertainment and lifestyle proposition.
Beyond the spotlight, the initiative carries a social dimension. Through its partnership with Learning Links Foundation, Mastercard has enabled nearly 90 students from underserved communities across cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Chandigarh to experience live events often for the first time aiming to spark interest in careers within the experience economy.
As live entertainment becomes increasingly hybrid and experiential, Mastercard’s latest move signals a simple insight: today’s audience doesn’t just want a show, they want a story, a laugh and a memory, all rolled into one.
