Netflix Begins Crackdown on Password Sharing in US and UK

[MacRumors]

Netflix is officially cracking down on password sharing in the United States and the United Kingdom, more than a year after it first announced the move.

Netflix explained on its U.S. and U.K. websites how viewers who shared their account password to people outside their household would be affected, and what the additional costs would be if they still wanted to let out-of-household users access their account.

Going forward, account holders on the Netflix Standard plan will have the option to add one person outside of their household, but they will have to pay an extra $7.99 a month (or £4.99 in the U.K.) for the privilege. Account holders on the Netflix Premium with 4K package can add up to two extra members, but they will still cost $7.99 each.

As for account holders on the Basic or Standard with adverts plans, they don't have any option to add out-of-household members at all.

Extra members will be given their own account and password, but their membership is paid for by the person who invited them to share their Netflix account. Alternatively, they can use a new "transfer profile" feature to prompt extra users to make their own accounts that they pay for.

Netflix said subscribers living in the same household would still be able to access their account when traveling or on the go, but the streaming company said it had begun sending emails about the "paid sharing" plan to out-of-household users on Tuesday, explaining what their options are.

Netflix has been testing the new sharing restrictions in Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal since the beginning of the year, and said in April that it was "pleased with the results." In Canada, for example, paid sharing resulted in a larger Netflix membership base and an acceleration in revenue growth, which has given Netflix the confidence to expand it to the United States and elsewhere.

Netflix claimed last year that more than 100 million households are sharing accounts, which is impacting its ability to "invest in and improve Netflix" for paying members.

Article Link: Netflix Begins Crackdown on Password Sharing in US and UK

 

[spercharged69]

Netflix has lost their minds!

 

[thadoggfather]

I hope this hurts their bottom line significantly

Greed has consumed them, and their content is generally really bad

 

[MacWiz_007]

Haven't seen any ramifications from this yet, as my brother and I share an account in two different locations here in the US. Sounds like it takes 30 days though, although I'm not entirely sure how this works. If Netflix does try to charge us extra, we will cancel. Netflix is trash compared to how it used to be anyway. No loss here.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

If this turns out to be profitable for them you can bet other streaming services will copy it. Everyone in the industry will be interested in Netflix financial updates.

 

[Mike MA]

Begun, the streaming wars have!

 

[melliflu]

Same in France, extra €5.99 a month for outsiders.
Luckily I have Apple TV+ to fullfill all my desires

 

[icanhazmac]

If this turns out to be profitable for them you can bet other streaming services will copy it. Everyone in the industry will be interested in Netflix financial updates.

Already happening, notice that Max charges for 4k now as well?

 

[MrPresident]

Boo Netflix, boo.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Same in France, extra €5.99 a month for outsiders.
Luckily I have Apple TV+ to fullfill all my desires

Funny enough, Apple TV+ is the only other streaming service that also restricts sharing.

 

[Havalo]

Thanks me later.

LMGTFY - Let Me Google That For You

For all those people who find it more convenient to bother you with their question rather than to Google it for themselves.

bfy.tw

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Funny enough, Apple TV+ is the only other streaming service that also restricts sharing.

Oh wow, I didnt know that? Can't you use family sharing ?

 

[CaptMarvel]

Meanwhile, they’re begging me daily to resubscribe. No thanks.

 

[N82]

Same in The Netherlands and Belgium, costs of 3,99 EUR per extra member.

 

[DJTaurus]

Please be fast. I so want to cancel Netflix. I am just watching office most of the time on it.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

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Oh wow, I didnt know that? Can't you use family sharing ?

Is that not a sharing restriction? Most people are not adding their frat brother to family sharing.

Although it was a smarter way to do it. That’s a luxury of the Apple ecosystem.

 

[w_macintosh]

Cancelled my account in Canada as soon as they did this lol. Because of the stupid rule of needing to be back at the same place within 30 days. I have a condo but I work 500 Kms north doing shift work so I am away/back and forth sometimes longer than a month and it has just become annoying.

 

[w_macintosh]

Is that not a sharing restriction? Most people are not adding their frat brother to family sharing.

Although it was a smarter way to do it. That’s a luxury of the Apple ecosystem.

If you have a kid at university for example you’d need to pay an additional fee for them to be able to assess Netflix Since they don’t have the same IP

 

[McWetty]

I haven’t used Netflix in a decade, but it always struck me as odd that they make you pay extra for 4K but give you 4 concurrent streams. Why not pay for the streams you need, throw in 4K, and let people pay what suits their needs? I mean $20/mo is still fair compared to what cable charges, but at least make it consumer friendly too…

 

[mnsportsgeek]

If you have a kid at university for example you’d need to pay an additional fee for them to be able to assess Netflix Since they don’t have the same IP

Yes, I agree Apple’s way is better.

Netflix should have implemented a sub account system like Apple.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Netflix has been testing the new sharing restrictions in Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal since the beginning of the year, and said in April that it was "pleased with the results."

And I think EU will probably put an end to this practice on Netflix sooner or later with new consumer protection law allowing account sharing as “fair use”

 

[lkrupp]

Netflix has lost their minds!

So can we assume you think giving your Netflix credentials to 20 friends is perfect okay?

 

[rjohnstone]

Hulu Live has been doing this for a few years now.
You can use it on mobile anywhere you want, but it can only be signed into streaming devices like Apple TV and Roku at ONE location. If you sign in some where else, it logs out the other location.

 

[mystery hill]

With all these streaming services increasing their prices, and charging extra for 4K, more users may set sail.

 

[that be me]

In Canada, for example, paid sharing resulted in a larger Netflix membership base and an acceleration in revenue growth

Damnit Canada! First you let Rogers and Bell give you the thumbscrews and now this? Why?