The described technology is directed towards obtaining and returning time offset data instead of current data in response to a data request. The time offset data may be limited to privileged clients only, and only provided thereto when desired, using a time offset value set by the client, for example. For example, a privileged user may request time offset data corresponding to a future time so as to preview how the data may be presented at a future time. Time offset data may be used by a system entity to fill a cache, e.g., as secondary cached data that may be used once primary cached data expires.