So there I was, all tucked into my comfy spot on the couch, ready for a good ol’ British mystery binge. I had my snacks in place, my cat on standby, and my tablet charged. I tapped open Acorn TV and—gasp!—no download option?! What happened? Panic set in. Had the Queen taken back her shows?
TL;DR
I lost offline downloads on Acorn TV without warning. Turns out, I needed to upgrade my plan to keep that feature. They never told me about it. This article takes you through what happened, how it felt, and what I did next.
A Love Story Between Me and Acorn TV
Let me take you back a bit. I subscribed to Acorn TV for one reason: British shows. Cozy mysteries, slow-burn dramas, and accents thick enough to need subtitles. It was heaven.
Even better? I could download episodes and watch them offline. I’d save a few for plane rides, commutes, or just when my Wi-Fi decided to take a day off. That feature was a game-changer!
I never thought twice. I was loyal. I was invested. My watchlist was longer than a Shakespeare play.
One Day, The Downloads Were Gone
One ordinary Tuesday, I went to download a new episode of Vera. Only… the download button wasn’t there. I blinked. I restarted the app. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Where did it go?
I checked another show. Still no download option. I rubbed my eyes. Checked the app version. Restarted my tablet. Still didn’t work.
Then it hit me: had Acorn TV taken away offline downloads?
I Turned Detective
Fired up my inner Agatha Christie, I started an investigation. First stop: Acorn TV’s help section.
After a few scrolls through FAQ pages and support articles, I found it. A tiny mention. There had been a change.
Offline downloads were only available for “Ad-Free Premium” subscribers now. That wasn’t me. Apparently, I had been bumped to a basic plan—without downloads.
Wait, what? When did I agree to that? Why wasn’t I told?
The Silence Was the Loudest Part
Here’s the kicker: Acorn TV never told me about the change. No email. No alert in the app. No owl delivering a message from Britain. Nothing.
No heads-up. No warning. No chance to say, “Hey maybe I want to keep that feature!”
I felt a little betrayed, if I’m honest. Like I’d been ghosted by my favorite streaming service.
Download-Gate: The Fallout
I took a break and let my disappointment simmer. Then I started checking forums. I wasn’t alone. A lot of users were caught off guard by the sudden change.
Most of us had been loyal subscribers for years. We weren’t asking for much—just to keep watching Midsomer Murders offline at 30,000 feet.
What made it sting even more was that the fix was simple—upgrade the plan. But it felt like a “gotcha” moment. They’re charging for something that used to be free.
What the New Plans Look Like
Here’s how it breaks down now (as of my snooping):
- Basic Plan – Cheaper, includes ads, NO downloads.
- Ad-Free Premium Plan – More expensive, no ads AND downloads allowed.
If you want to take Miss Marple into the mountains with no Wi-Fi, you’ll need to pay more.
Why This Bugs Me
I get it. Streaming services need to make money. Servers, rights, actors—all that jazz costs cash. But here’s where it gets messy:
- Users weren’t informed properly about the plan change.
- Downloads were removed without active consent.
- Downgrading existing features hurts brand trust.
Imagine Netflix one day stripping your favorite feature and then acting like it never existed. That’s how this felt.
What I Did Next
After moping for a day (okay, two), I decided to act:
- I contacted Acorn TV support—took 3 days to respond. They confirmed the change but couldn’t offer anything more than “please upgrade.”
- I upgraded to the Ad-Free Premium plan for one month, begrudgingly. I wanted my downloads back for a trip.
- Set a reminder to cancel if I don’t use the extra features by the end of the month.
Did I feel great about it? Not really. But my desire to finish the season finale of Line of Duty won out.
Lessons I’ve Learned
This whole episode taught me a few things:
- Always read emails from your streaming services. Even the boring ones.
- Companies can—and will—change features anytime.
- Offline downloads might not be a forever feature on any platform.
- It’s okay to cancel for a while and explore other options.
Since then, I’ve been hoarding trial codes and checking what services give me downloads without hidden upgrades.
Better Ways to Handle This (Hint, Acorn TV Should Read This)
If I were in charge of Acorn TV’s customer experience, here’s what I’d have done:
- Send an email well ahead of the plan change.
- Give a grace period for users to upgrade before removing features.
- Add a big pop-up inside the app explaining the change the first time it takes effect.
- Maybe even offer a one-time discount on the new plan for loyal users.
Transparency buys loyalty. Silence breeds frustration.
Final Thoughts (No Cliffhangers)
Streaming services are great. But they’re also starting to feel like they’re playing the same tricks airlines do—offering less for the same or more money.
If you’re an Acorn TV fan like me and suddenly lost the ability to download your favorite shows, you’re not alone. It wasn’t your fault.
Keep your eyes open for changes, be ready to switch plans if needed, and never—NEVER—delete your downloaded Poirot episodes until you’ve watched them!
Now if only I could download a cuppa tea, we’d be all set.
