Netflix Testing Add-On Payment for People Who Share Accounts Outside Their Households

[Tagbert]

This would be a great reason to decrease my Netflix subscription to basic and join the millions of people who turn their memberships on and off throughout the year. In an era of streaming and portable streaming devices, disabling users from sharing access is akin to shooting yourself in the foot because you see a penny on the ground. If I cannot use a streaming service when I travel, why am I paying for it in the first place?

Why are you assuming that you cannot use it while traveling? That is a legitimate use case.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Implementing something like this would prevent prices from being raised, it's because everyone is sharing their password that their price is getting so high. I personally would love for Netflix to be cheaper with no way to password share. Rather than continuing to pay high prices to make up for all people who are too cheap to get their own account.

Do you think it is some oversight on Netflix's part that their 1-screen plan is in crappy non-HD quality? They're causing their own issue by forcing people into more screens than they need just to get acceptable quality video for their money.

 

[vipergts2207]

Netflix is already charging 33% more than the next most expensive service for content that is not any better, yet needs even more money to avoid going bankrupt apparently? This must be one terribly managed company.

 

[btbeme]

I have two "households" - one being a summer home. How will Netflix feel about my being logged in at both homes at the same time? Nobody else uses the account, just my wife and I, but if Netflix (and others) wish to challenge that as fair use, I'm gone.

 

[MacMikePro]

That's the funniest thing I've read here so far!!! ?

It's hilarious that you don't think it's correlated, of course when they're looking at the data, and they can see just how many different IP addresses are accessing the same account, the easiest solution is to just keep raising prices. They know they wouldn't be able to justify it otherwise and would lose waaaay more subscriptions. It's all about the data and market research, you can keep burying your head in the sand and ignore it if you want, but these companies know.

 

[vipergts2207]

It's hilarious that you don't think it's correlated, of course when they're looking at the data, and they can see just how many different IP addresses are accessing the same account, the easiest solution is to just keep raising prices. They know they wouldn't be able to justify it otherwise and would lose waaaay more subscriptions. It's all about the data and market research, you can keep burying your head in the sand and ignore it if you want, but these companies know.

Cue skeletonwaiting.jpg to see me waiting on Netflix to drop their tier prices upon implementing this.

 

[MacMikePro]

Netflix is already charging 33% more than the next most expensive service for content that is not any better, yet needs even more money to avoid going bankrupt apparently? This must be one terribly managed company.

33% more but divided amongst multiple people. Damn near every account is password shared among multiple users. Netflix got themselves into a huge mess by encouraging this to begin with. Mark my words, eventually every streaming service will implement ways to block password sharing.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I have two "households" - one being a summer home. How will Netflix feel about my being logged in at both homes at the same time? Nobody else uses the account, just my wife and I, but if Netflix (and others) wish to challenge that as fair use, I'm gone.

Maybe this isn’t obvious to everyone but it would almost certainly be time & location dependent. If an account is streaming in one location and then another an hour later 2 states over and doing it consistently then they would throw a flag.

 

[iBreatheApple]

It’s reasonable to get upset about price hikes and limiting quality but to get upset that you can’t give your username and password to a friend to get it free any longer is just silly.

 

[MacMikePro]

Cue skeletonwaiting.jpg to see me waiting on Netflix to drop their tier prices upon implementing this.

I know I'm going against the grain of everyone, I know everyone wants to cry and whine that "this isn't fair". But honestly this should be a surprise to no one. It was generous (and stupid) for them to allow it for this long. People just need to grow up and quit crying.

 

[kiranmk2]

I'm saddened to see the numer of people on here whining about this. As the poster just above has said it was obvious Netflix would have to have to do this at some stage due to the number of subscriptions that are being shared.

At the same time Netflix have a terrible selection of plans. My suggestion (and there may well be holes in this logic) would be to have a the following tiers

• Basic $7 - supports HD and is restricted to mobile devices only (phones and tablets via the app, hence no need for 4K) with AirPlay disabled
• Standard $11 - 4K and restricted to 2 streams from the same IP address* and 2 streams on mobile devices (via the app) - this would allow 2 TVs in a household to watch different streams and for 2 people to also watch on mobile devices when out and about (Airplay is disabled if the 2 TV streams are active)
• Add-ons
  • Large household $3 - allow the number of streams from the same IP address* to reach 4 or 5 streams on TVs and 4 or 5 mobile streams - this would allow large (same location) families to each watch something different on a TV
  • Multihousehold $7 - allows the standard plan to be used from two IP addresses* - I would imagine this would only be shared between family members because everyone with a login would be able to see the credit card payment details

Thus someone who just wants to watch on their commute has a cheaper plan. Single people and couples have a cheaper plan which now allows 4K and allows them to watch at home and on the go. Then people who have larger families have an add-on option and people who want to share their plan with family members who don't live with them can add a second plan at a lower cost (e.g. if someone wants to share their plan with their parents and sibling (all living in different houses) then the total cost would be $25 or $8.33 per group rather than the $11 per group if they had individual subs). Netflix should also allow the transfer of a profile between accounts (but only allow a profile to be associated with one account at a time)

*The IP issue would be reletively easy to police over time.

• Travelling for work - 1 steam typically comes from standard IP, occasional stream from a second IP - allowed
• Holiday home/Going on holiday - 1-2 TV streams typically come from standard IP then 1-2 TV streams come from a second IP (but no streams from the original location) - allowed
• Sharing the login with someone else - 1-2 TV streams consistantly coming from 2 different locations over a couple of months - not allowed

Of course, the other option to reduce prices is ad-supported plans...

 

[vipergts2207]

33% more but divided amongst multiple people. Damn near every account is password shared among multiple users. Netflix got themselves into a huge mess by encouraging this to begin with. Mark my words, eventually every streaming service will implement ways to block password sharing.

Source your claim. My account is shared with nobody. And I’m pretty sure most of the cheaper services also allow multiple streams. I know HBO and Disney do, so that argument as to why Netflix is 33% more expensive at a minimum doesn’t hold water.

I know I'm going against the grain of everyone, I know everyone wants to cry and whine that "this isn't fair". But honestly this should be a surprise to no one. It was generous (and stupid) for them to allow it for this long. People just need to grow up and quit crying.

This rant about others simply having an opposing view ignored my point, which is to say that your claim that implementing this will allow Netflix to lower their prices is a fantasy. I unsubscribed from Netflix’s overpriced catalog when then announced their price increase in any case. I’ll come back briefly when they drop the final season of Stranger Things and then cancel again.

 

[Ankaa]

Maybe this isn’t obvious to everyone but it would almost certainly be time & location dependent. If an account is streaming in one location and then another an hour later 2 states over and doing it consistently then they would throw a flag.

Yeah, because people of the same household can't possibly be traveling (with one party staying at home) and because time zones totally aren't a thing were the prime viewing hours experience a phase shift ...

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Yeah, because people of the same household can't possibly be traveling (with one party staying at home) and because time zones totally aren't a thing were the prime viewing hours experience a phase shift ...

Which part of consistently don’t you understand? It also wouldn’t apply to mobile devices as those are mobile by nature. It’d only be looking at set top boxes or smart tv apps.

 

[lysingur]

Implementing something like this would prevent prices from being raised, it's because everyone is sharing their password that their price is getting so high. I personally would love for Netflix to be cheaper with no way to password share. Rather than continuing to pay high prices to make up for all people who are too cheap to get their own account.

Unfortunately, you're wrong. It's like how piracy actually contributed to the dominance of Microsoft Office because everybody is sending .doc, .xls, and .ppt regardless of whether their copy was legitimate.

Had Netflix disallowed password sharing like Apple TV+, they'd never have the number of subscribers that they had. Password sharing is essentially a feature. I wouldn't be surprised if a sizeable portion of Netflix subscribers actually chose Netflix over Amazon Prime or Hulu because they were able to share passwords with family members.

 

[Ankaa]

Which part of consistently don’t you understand? It also wouldn’t apply to mobile devices as those are mobile by nature. It’d only be looking at set top boxes or smart tv apps.

COVID may have made you forget this, but there are people who consistently travel for work for extended periods of time (i.e. a week or two instead of a couple days) and repeatedly so month after month, even to the same place.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

COVID may have made you forget this, but there are people who consistently travel for work for extended periods of time (i.e. a week or two instead of a couple days) and repeatedly so month after month, even to the same place.

And it will be abundantly clear that someone who is packing up their Apple TV, laptop, iPad, etc and signing in to the same device in multiple states is actually traveling around and not just sharing a password with grandma. How dumb do you think these algorithms are?

 

[Abazigal]

Unfortunately, you're wrong. It's like how piracy actually contributed to the dominance of Microsoft Office because everybody is sending .doc, .xls, and .ppt regardless of whether their copy was legitimate.

Had Netflix disallowed password sharing like Apple TV+, they'd never have the number of subscribers that they had. Password sharing is essentially a feature. I wouldn't be surprised if a sizeable portion of Netflix subscribers actually chose Netflix over Amazon Prime or Hulu because they were able to share passwords with family members.

What’s the point of having subscribers if none of them are paying?

 

[827538]

simple same IP address

So when I walk outside, or go skiing in a different state?

 

[827538]

And it will be abundantly clear that someone who is packing up their Apple TV, laptop, iPad, etc and signing in to the same device in multiple states is actually traveling around and not just sharing a password with grandma. How dumb do you think these algorithms are?

So every time I clear my browsers cache is it going to presume I'm a new person and lock me out?

I don't see how Netflix can do this - at least within the same country without really harming their users.

 

[4jasontv]

Off the top of my head here are 10 normal uses cases that would likely be flagged:
1. Someone in the house travels a lot for work.
2. Someone who works long hours and watches while at work.
3. People who leave it running to keep their pets calm while they are out of the house.
4. Kids at college.
5. People who own multiple homes.
6. People with more than one ISP (which is most people, btw).
7. A couple who prepaid and are now separated.
8. People who need to use a VPN.
9. People who are concerned about privacy.
10. Families in the process of moving.

There is a name for companies that charge customers per location: cable providers.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

So every time I clear my browsers cache is it going to presume I'm a new person and lock me out?

I don't see how Netflix can do this - at least within the same country without really harming their users.

They might make you authenticate on your phone, yes.

 

[MacMikePro]

Unfortunately, you're wrong. It's like how piracy actually contributed to the dominance of Microsoft Office because everybody is sending .doc, .xls, and .ppt regardless of whether their copy was legitimate.

Had Netflix disallowed password sharing like Apple TV+, they'd never have the number of subscribers that they had. Password sharing is essentially a feature. I wouldn't be surprised if a sizeable portion of Netflix subscribers actually chose Netflix over Amazon Prime or Hulu because they were able to share passwords with family members.

I know it's a matter of opinions but I would disagree. Netflix being the first major streaming platform was HUGE for them. It was the big major new thing, even when it was primarily DVDs by mail, and from back then even if they implemented something that blocked password sharing I still think they would've gotten around the number of subscribers that they did, possibly more. I think there would've been a ton of people with the thought "well if I can't use my friend's password, I'll fork over the $6 a month (or whatever the price was at that time) because I want this service" because it was such an in demand service. But I understand that that's anyones guess.

 

[npmacuser5]

Apple has it right, family share plan. How hard can this be? Netflix maybe not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

[ikramerica]

33% more but divided amongst multiple people. Damn near every account is password shared among multiple users. Netflix got themselves into a huge mess by encouraging this to begin with. Mark my words, eventually every streaming service will implement ways to block password sharing.

We share Disney+ too.