Sharing of user accounts - Disney+ cracks down on account sharing.
Summer of 2023 marked a change in the streaming industry, with both Netflix and Disney+ taking a stringent approach towards account-sharing. For Netflix, users now need to add "additional members" to their accounts if they wish to stream content on different devices in various households. Disney+ is following suit and will implement similar measures in June, preventing customers from sharing their passwords and accounts with non-household members, such as friends.
Disney+'s Strategy Going Forward
According to the streaming service's help center, this means that any device used at the main residence of the account holder is considered part of the household. This extension includes devices used by people living there as well. Back in February 2024, it was revealed that Disney+ planned to counteract account-sharing exceeding these guidelines starting that summer. The company's CEO Bob Iger (73) elaborated further in an April interview with CNBC, stating that they would make their first "real push" against sharing in June, starting in only a few countries. By September, all regions where Disney+ is available should adopt these measures as part of a complete rollout.
Variety, a US trade magazine, reported in February that Disney+ would follow Netflix's example. According to their report, customers would have to pay extra for additional members in the future. Netflix initiated this practice for German and Austrian subscribers in May 2023, prompting them to register additional members for non-household individuals.
Current Subscription Pricing at Netflix and Disney+
Netflix provides three types of subscriptions - €4.99, €13.99, and €19.99 monthly. In the "Standard" and "Premium" packages that cost €13.99 and €19.99 respectively, you can book "additional member slots" for an extra €4.99 per month. Conversely, Disney+ offers three packages at €5.99 (with ads), €8.99, and €11.99 per month. It is yet to be determined how much additional members will cost and what types of subscriptions would allow their addition.
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- Despite the strict measures taken by Disney+ and Netflix against account sharing, some users in Germany and Austria continue to share their Netflix accounts, paying the additional €4.99 per month for extra members.
- With the implementation of similar measures in June, Disney+ subscribers from various households in Austria will no longer be able to share their passwords or accounts with non-household members, including friends, as they would be considered outside of the household.
- In an effort to prevent account-sharing from exceeding their guidelines, Disney+ plans to follow Netflix's lead and charge customers extra for additional members, effectively making it a pricier option for those who wish to share their accounts with non-household individuals.
- In the same vein as Netflix, Disney+ offers three subscription packages but hasn't made it clear how much additional members will cost or which types of subscriptions will allow for their inclusion in the near future.
- As more streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix take a stronger stance against account-sharing, avid streamers in Austria may find themselves needing multiple subscriptions to enjoy their favorite series and films across multiple devices, ultimately leading to higher costs.
