If you're a Showtime subscriber you can now download the entire catalog of shows to watch offline. By allowing downloads for offline viewing, Showtime is following in the footsteps of both Amazon and Netflix. Which is making commuters' journeys to work more entertaining by the day.

Physical media is a thing of the past. We have a whole generation of people who see streaming as the norm, and who will consume content as and when they want to. However, just occasionally it's nice to have something in reserve, stored offline for when your internet connection plays up.

Showtime Joins the Download Party

Amazon has offered the option to download videos for offline viewing for a while now. And, in November 2016, Netflix finally followed suit. Now, as reported by TechCrunch, Showtime has joined the party, and, unlike Amazon and Netflix, it's allowing people to download its entire catalog.

The ability to download shows for offline viewing is open to both authenticated pay TV subscribers and streaming subscribers. All you need to do is install the latest version of the Showtime app on your chosen mobile platform, which includes Android, iOS, and Fire OS.

Once updated, a Download button will appear alongside all Showtime shows. This means you can download full seasons of Billions, Dexter, Homeland, The Affair, and Shameless, to name just a few. Once downloaded, shows can be watched while you're offline, making buffering a thing of the past.

Showtime is putting you in charge of the quality, with smartphone users able to choose between standard definition (540p) and high definition (720p). Tablet users have the option to download at 1080p. You can see everything you've downloaded by clicking on the new "Download List" icon.

The New Norm for Streaming Services

Offering downloads for offline viewing is rapidly becoming the norm for streaming services. And that can only be a good thing for consumers, who get another way of watching the content they're paying for. Not everyone will download shows, but it's nice to even have the option, regardless.

Do you subscribe to Showtime? Do you have a pay TV subscription or a streaming subscription? Will you be downloading Showtime shows to watch offline? What other streaming service do you wish offered downloads? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Jan Persiel via Flickr