Stan Just Announced Offline Streaming And A Big Bunch Of Exclusive Comedy Specials

Stan may be the baby of the streaming world, but they’re gunning for Netflix pretty hard these days! While announcing their 2017 program at an event in Sydney this afternoon, they just dropped the news that you’ll soon be able to stream content offline.

It’s an innovation that Netflix only announced in December last year, a relief to your shitty mobile data plan, and a huge win for any boring airport layover or extra-long road trip you were planning on taking in the near future. The new feature will be available for the majority of their content from March this year.

It also looks like there will be a bigger list of stuff to choose from. Expanding their Original Programming slate (which includes shows like Wolf Creek and No Activity), Stan are introducing a new comedy series called One Night Stan (geddit? Yeah, you geddit). The show will be comprised of a rotating selection of Australian comedy specials filmed exclusively for the platform. It’ll kick off on March 24 with Wil Anderson’s Fire At Wil, and go on to feature Tom Ballard, Celia Pacquola, Tom Gleeson, Sam Simmons and Judith Lucy.

“It’s so gratifying to see Stan supporting Australian comedy and doing it in the best way possible — making full-length specials with my favourite comedians,” Anderson said, responding to the news. “Oh and also me. Although I am not going to watch that one, but I hope you do!”

In addition to previously announced big international gets like Twin Peaks, Transparent and Better Call Saul, Stan announced it will be streaming Jim Carrey’s upcoming show I’m Dying Up Here, and the second season of Billions. The Girlfriend Experience, iZombie, Mozart in the Jungle, UnREAL, Younger, Angie Tribeca and more will also be returning for new seasons, and if you prefer your stuff local, Wolf Creek has been renewed as well.

While all this is great news for Australians who love to watch things legally (without parting with huge wads of cash each month), the news of the comedy specials is particularly interesting. Netflix have really been perfecting the form recently with shows like Chelsea Peretti’s One of the Greats, Bo Burnham’s Make Happy, and Reggie Watts’ Spatial; and new players like Seeso are popping up all over the place to diversify the offerings.

It’s great to see Australian comedians (and people interested in Australian comedy!) getting in on the action.