Disney+ to Start Cracking Down on Password Sharing in November

[MacRumors]

Following in the footsteps of Netflix, Disney will start cracking down on password sharing on the Disney+ streaming service. Disney+ password sharing will end in Canada starting on November 1, according to emails that Canadian subscribers are receiving.

As reported by Mobile Syrup, Disney is updating its terms of service to restrict account sharing.

"Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household. "Household" means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein. Additional usage rules may apply for certain Service Tiers.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said back in August that Disney would "roll out tactics" to end password sharing starting in 2024, but it appears the crackdown will come sooner in Canada.

Disney's streaming division experienced a $512 million loss in the third fiscal quarter of 2023, and Iger has been aiming to cut down on the company's streaming costs. Disney's ad-free Disney+ and Hulu plans also recently went up in price, with ad-free Disney+ priced at $13.99 per month in the United States and ad-free Hulu priced at $17.99 per month.

While Disney plans to put a stop to password sharing in Canada first, it is undoubtedly a change that will also roll out to the United States and other countries. Netflix this year eliminated password sharing between households, implementing restrictions through IP address and location. Netflix saw a notable increase in signups when it eliminated password sharing, so it is not a surprise to see other streaming services implementing similar crackdowns.

Article Link: Disney+ to Start Cracking Down on Password Sharing in November

 

[jayducharme]

I don't understand how they could post a half-billion dollar loss on content they already own. How are they accruing those losses? From paying too much to produce original content? They could easily lean on their extensive back catalogue for many years.

 

[raindogg]

Yes, by all means, the shareholders need to make more!!! I mean, Jesus, they must be starving with all those billions.

 

[whitby]

I have never understood why password sharing was considered legitimate on a paid for service. I know Netflix actively encouraged the practice for a while, which makes it difficult to accept them removing the privilege. However in this case it was never a legitimate option and we should be prepared to pay for an ad free service. Now if they add ads. then it is a different matter because I will never pay a company to deliver advertising to my house and the service should be free.

 

[centauratlas]

Good. Why should those of us who aren't sharing be subsidizing those who are? Everyone should be able to be paid for their time and effort. If it is too much to spend the money, there are other options.

 

[6787872]

z

 

[sw1tcher]

Everyone will be cracking down on password sharing and running ads going forward

What Amazon’s Pivot to Prime Video Ads Will Look Like

Starting early next year, the ad option will be the default for those that subscribe to the ecommerce giant's membership option.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[vaxes]

It’s about time these streamers introduce a family plan.
Somthing akin to Spotify family.
One plan with multiple accounts.

 

[thingstoponder]

Here come the entitled whiners who think they should get content for free on a service that doesn’t make any money for Disney.

 

[toobravetosave]

I have never understood why password sharing was considered legitimate on a paid for service. I know Netflix actively encouraged the practice for a while, which makes it difficult to accept them removing the privilege. However in this case it was never a legitimate option and we should be prepared to pay for an ad free service. Now if they add ads. then it is a different matter because I will never pay a company to deliver advertising to my house and the service should be free.

if I buy a book I can lend it to a friend. kinda sick of people normalizing digital goods as these rented services from companies we have no rights to.

If I'm paying for it I'll do what I want with it

 

[Shirasaki]

Well, if Netflix password sharing is anything to go by, Disney would just make it hard Enough to deter casual folks, while those determined will find a way regardless, outside of very strict IP/MAC/Device ban from Disney.

 

[Shirasaki]

if I buy a book I can lend it to a friend. kinda sick of people normalizing digital goods as these rented services from companies we have no rights to.

If I'm paying for it I'll do what I want with it

Well, in that sense, I guess what company wants to tell you is since you don’t “own” anything you cannot do anything.

 

[toobravetosave]

Well, in that sense, I guess what company wants to tell you is since you don’t “own” anything you cannot do anything.

eventually we won't because most people simply don't care. they'll probably defend the company because they've already sunk money into the service and would feel cheated if others got a free ride.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Firestick it is for a bargain VOD service

 

[Shirasaki]

eventually we won't because most people simply don't care. they'll probably defend the company because they've already sunk money into the service and would feel cheated if others got a free ride.

Yeah, because they don’t care, those who do suffer, and eventually society falter.

 

[dannyyankou]

So does this mean other profiles on your account have to be in your household? I’m all for people being compensated for their work, but I think they should at least have a way to share their account with family members outside of the household, or maybe even a family tier subscription.

 

[Sasparilla]

I don't understand how they could post a half-billion dollar loss on content they already own. How are they accruing those losses? From paying too much to produce original content? They could easily lean on their extensive back catalogue for many years.

It's a really good question. And when you're talking 1/2 billion loss for the quarter (~$2 billion a year), that's not the kind of thing doing a little cutting back and increasing efficiencies will fix. Rather horrified if the numbers are legit (not numbers pushed here and there on purpose), as i like the service...but this is the kind of losses that provokes whether the service is doable.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Content companies should have stuck to licensing content out instead of running streaming services, and streaming services should have focused on buying content and running the best service possible instead of trying to make a ton of their own.

Now we have a ton of crap content spread across a ton of mediocre services with a little bit of good stuff sprinkled across each.

What a mess. Not just for users but for the companies too, clearly. They are all losing money trying to run streaming services, while with a little cooperation this could have been better for everyone.

 

[dwtd]

if I buy a book I can lend it to a friend. kinda sick of people normalizing digital goods as these rented services from companies we have no rights to.

If I'm paying for it I'll do what I want with it

Not exactly apples-to-apples. If I subscribe to cable tv, I can’t lend that to you, you have to get your own cable tv.

 

[dannyyankou]

I don't understand how they could post a half-billion dollar loss on content they already own. How are they accruing those losses? From paying too much to produce original content? They could easily lean on their extensive back catalogue for many years.

Their advertising budget must be huge

 

[Scott6666]

Was quitting anyway because of the price increases.

Have been an annual subscriber since day 1. My 6 year old granddaughter is going to have to get a job mowing lawns.

 

[brownpaw]

It’s about time these streamers introduce a family plan.
Somthing akin to Spotify family.
One plan with multiple accounts.

Not a good example. Spotify family also requires you to be at the same address.

 

[toobravetosave]

Not exactly apples-to-apples. If I subscribe to cable tv, I can’t lend that to you, you have to get your own cable tv.

people used to share cable all the time it just wasn't legal because the law is designed for corporate profit

 

[sw1tcher]

I don't understand how they could post a half-billion dollar loss on content they already own. How are they accruing those losses? From paying too much to produce original content? They could easily lean on their extensive back catalogue for many years.

You have to constantly create new content to bring in or keep subscribers; Many people have already seen Disney's old catalog of content. You cannot rely on the back catalog. This is true of every major streaming service providers (i.e. Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount+, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, etc).

Production costs have gone up significantly these past few years. A decade ago, it typically cost $2 million to $5 million an episode (e.g. House of Cards; Orange is the New Black). You now have studios spending $25 million per episode or more. Amazon spent $465 million on season 1 (8 episodes) of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power; That's $58.125 million per episode!

Why do you think all of them are raising prices, cracking down on password sharing, offering ad-supported tiers, etc?

 

[dannyyankou]

i pirate all my media anyways, this doesn't bother me.

Do you steal gum at the grocery store too?