Choosing a service to download (not stream) tv shows?

I thought this was a common thing, downloading from legal (pay) sites. Have I got that wrong?

When I googled 'download tv shows' I got a zillion hits, and was overwhelmed. That was why I posted here. Do all those sites really mean 'stream' when they say 'download'? On my slow connection, it would take literally days to check them all to find out.

Hi,

It works on Android and on laptops as well.

Seattle Steve wrote:
Netflix now allows downloading to IOS devices, iPad and iPhone. I'm not sure about the Android version. The Netflix app also supports ChromeCast, so if your TV setup is equipped you could play downloaded movies and shows on your TV.

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
Amazon Prime, maybe, under the "Included with Prime" option. When I look at the list on my desktop computer, it wants to stream and does not appear to offer the download option. When I look at the list on my little Amazon Fire tablet, I can download TV shows and movies. I've done that a few times and taken them on trips with me. There have a time limit: 48 hours of watching once you start, up to 30 days of availability before you start watching. After that, the file deletes itself.

I contacted them about this, they disable it intentionally on desktop. It's available on all the Android versions, at least.

It's not the total data, it's the speed, and the timing. I download when I am in a place with wifi, even if it is too slow for streaming. I watch when I am not in a place with wifi.

I've done some research and found what others have said. Mobile devices seem to be able to do it with Amazon or Netflix. But not for computers.

I would also like to find a way so that I can reduce the number of devices I take when traveling for work.

As a practical matter, it will use up the same amount of data to download a show as it takes to stream it. If it is impractical to stream due to data limits, it probably won't help you.

Netflix and Amazon let you download content to a "mobile device", but not a computer.

Far as I know, there are no legal methods to download shows to a computer - laptop or otherwise.

There are plenty of other ways, but I think they fall outside the scope of these forums. Lets just say for educational purposes only, the information is easily obtained on popular search engines. Your mileage may vary, and, for educational purposes only, whatever you do, don't use your own Internet connection.

Amazon Prime, maybe, under the "Included with Prime" option. When I look at the list on my desktop computer, it wants to stream and does not appear to offer the download option. When I look at the list on my little Amazon Fire tablet, I can download TV shows and movies. I've done that a few times and taken them on trips with me. There have a time limit: 48 hours of watching once you start, up to 30 days of availability before you start watching. After that, the file deletes itself.

Netflix now allows downloading to IOS devices, iPad and iPhone. I'm not sure about the Android version. The Netflix app also supports ChromeCast, so if your TV setup is equipped you could play downloaded movies and shows on your TV.

Netflix recently added the ability to download certain content for later viewing without a data connection. They do expire after a while, but other than that, it has worked well for me.

Of course, Netflix isn't a solution for current TV shows. For that purpose, I have no suggestions to offer.