Additional Coverage:
- The freeloader era of streaming is over (businessinsider.com)
Streaming Crackdown: Sharing Passwords Will Cost You
The free ride is over for those borrowing streaming logins. Password-sharing crackdowns are proving surprisingly successful for streaming services, meaning anyone still using a sibling’s, friend’s, or ex’s account will likely have to start paying.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, recently announced that their “paid sharing” program is boosting subscriber growth. This program allows subscribers to add users outside their household for an additional $7-$10 per month, depending on the existing plan.
Those who refuse to pay the extra fee will need their own subscriptions to continue watching. Disney+ initiated this change last fall, with Hulu following suit in March.
Other major players are adopting similar strategies. Warner Bros. Discovery implemented paid sharing for Max in April, hoping to stimulate growth, and NBCUniversal appears poised to do the same with Peacock, having updated its terms of service last year to prohibit password sharing outside the home.
While Paramount, Amazon, and Apple haven’t yet joined the crackdown, their terms of service typically restrict usage to a single household, leaving the door open for future changes.
Although this news may disappoint some viewers, the increasing availability of lower-cost, ad-supported plans offers a more affordable alternative to those unwilling or unable to pay for a full subscription. These ad-supported tiers are gaining popularity, attracting even those who were previously resistant to paying for streaming services.
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- The freeloader era of streaming is over (businessinsider.com)