The Days of Free Netflix Password Sharing Are Coming to an End

Netflix is ratcheting up its efforts to get freeloading viewers to pay up: Starting early next year, it will start charging accounts for password sharing, instituting a system that adds fees to your plan for “extra member” subaccounts when people outside your household use your membership.  

The company didn’t specify the price of these new fees when it confirmed the plan Tuesday. But this scheme is already being tested in a few Latin American countries, where the service charges a fee for each extra member worth roughly one-quarter the price of a Standard Netflix plan.  If Netflix sticks to that practice, then each extra member subaccount in the US would cost between about £3.50 and £4. 

And if it sticks with the norms of those account-sharing tests, Netflix is also likely to make these “extra member” fees only available on its £15.50-a-month Standard and £20-a-month Premium plans, which both allow more than more simultaneous stream.  Netflix didn’t have an option for the “extra member” fees on its Basic plans in the tests. Netflix’s £10-a-month Basic tier and a new plan coming next month, £7-a-month Basic with Ads, both limit your watching to a single simultaneous stream, which makes account-sharing functionally difficult.

Netflix also didn’t detail Tuesday how it will enforce unpaid password sharing once the fees roll out widely. 

After years of being relatively laissez-faire about password sharing, Netflix started testing ways to get shared accounts to pay after recording its deepest subscriber losses ever earlier this year. In addition to the password-sharing fees, Netflix plans to launch cheaper subscriptions supported by advertising next month.  Netflix’s dominance of streaming video — not to mention years of unflagging subscriber growth — pushed nearly all of Hollywood’s major media companies to pour billions of dollars into their own streaming operations.

These so-called streaming wars brought about a wave of new services, including Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock and Paramount Plus — a flood of streaming options that has complicated how many services you must use (and, often, pay for) to watch your favorite shows and movies online.  Now, feeling the heat of intensifying competition to hold onto your attention and your subscription account, Netflix is pursuing strategies it had dismissed for years.  The password-sharing fee system that Netflix will roll out more broadly appears to be modeled on a scheme it has been testing in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru for about six months. 

The day before revealing its plans for a wider rollout of these account-sharing fees, Netflix presaged the announcement by launching a profile-transfer feature, which is a key component of the password-sharing fees tested in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. This feature lets a profile created on a shared Netflix account transfer its watch history and recommendations to a new, independent account. This new account can then be added to somebody else’s Standard or Premium subscription plan. 

In July, Netflix said it would test a different method in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. This test established an account’s primary residence as the “home” for the membership. Streaming at any additional households for more than two weeks, would prompt the account to set up — and pay for — additional “homes,” with a limit on how many additional homes you can add depending on how much you’re already paying for Netflix.

Netflix appears to be eschewing this model in favor of the other one it tested. 

Tags:

ala-insurance listed on couponmatrix.ukbanggood listed on couponmatrix.ukcrealy-great-adventure-parks listed on couponmatrix.ukfreddies-flowers listed on couponmatrix.ukpandora listed on couponmatrix.ukugg listed on couponmatrix.uk
ala-insurance listed on couponmatrix.ukALA offer superb-value GAP insurance, that's far better value than most dealers will offer you. In the unfortunate event of your vehicle being written off and the sum your insurer pays you not covering the finance agreement you originally took out, you'll need extra cash from somewhere to make up the balance. A decent policy won't come cheap, but by pairing up the ALA discount code with one of their plans you can enjoy complete peace of mind and happy motoring with a policy underwritten by an A-rated insurer.
banggood listed on couponmatrix.ukWith more than seventy thousand products packed to the rafters on their virtual shelves, it seems as though there’s nothing you can’t find at the Banggoog online megastore. With an extraordinary range of goods at incredible good value, it’s easy to see why so many millions of customers choose Banggood. From slippers, solar panels and seeds, to laptops, lamps and lingerie, they really do have everything you could possibly require.
crealy-great-adventure-parks listed on couponmatrix.ukWelcome to Crealy, the ultimate theme park & resort bringing you the best rides in Devon. Located near Exeter, the theme park has a whopping 60 rides and attractions. Whether you want to dare the Twister, get soaked on the Vortex, or explore the Lost World of Atlantis, Crealy is an action packed and fun day out for all ages. With Crealy voucher codes you can enjoy an unforgettable experience for less. Whether you're with the family, out with friends, on a date or want to solo explore, Crealy has something for everyone.
freddies-flowers listed on couponmatrix.ukIndividually arranged floral bouquets are the name of the game at Freddies Flowers, the brainchild of florist Freddie Garland and his team of botanical experts. With the right Freddies Flowers discount code you can enjoy fresh floral arrangements for a fraction of the asking price. Adding fragrance and natural beauty to any home is Garland’s goal and thanks to his decades of expertise and the careful selection that goes into every box, they deliver exactly that with every bouquet.
pandora listed on couponmatrix.ukAiming to add a little sparkle to every lady’s outfit, Pandora has climbed to the top of the jewellery store ladder through a combination of alluring designs, collectable charms and inexpensive prices. Whether you’re a fan of classic, modern or even Disney-themed finery, a Pandora discount code is all you’ll need to knock your favourite jewellery down to an unbeatable price. With hundreds of unique charms, dazzling rings, beautiful necklaces and eye-catching earrings to pick from, personal preference truly takes many different forms at Pandora.
ugg listed on couponmatrix.ukFounded in 1978, UGG Australia started as a bag of sheepskin boots slung over Brian Smith’s shoulder when he landed in Southern California with the dream of sharing his passion with the world. It turned out that the relaxed So Cal beach scene was the perfect fit for his brand and by the mid ’80s; the UGG brand was ingrained in the counter culture. UGG Australia is a brand of cosy sheepskin boots dedicated to women, men and children. The beginning of their fame is dated to the beginning of the early 2000s when it became a must-wear item among celebs. Use an UGG discount code to share in this relaxed approach to life for less. Take advantage of these amazing money-off offers, discounts and promotions at Groupon.