Still need Internet to watch downloaded shows

We download shows to watch while flying. With no internet connection, no wifi, airplane mode on, when we click watch to watch the episode, it just goes back to the playlist. I finally figured out that if we initially have an internet connection, then it plays fine. We can turn off the internet once a show has started playing
Very frustrating and needs fixed.
Also, this app is so slow and drains battery so much. How does watching a video cause so much drain? No other app does that.

vfoxpro about DIRECTV, v4.9.603