Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown to Expand to U.S. in Q2 2023

Netflix is planning a "broad rollout" of the password sharing crackdown that it began implementing in 2022, the company said today in its Q1 2023 earnings report [PDF].

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The "paid sharing" plan that Netflix has been testing in a limited number of countries will expand to additional countries in the second quarter, including the United States. Netflix said that it was "pleased with the results" of the password sharing restrictions that it implemented in Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal earlier this year.

Netflix initially planned to start eliminating password sharing in the United States in the first quarter of the year, but the company said that it had learned from its tests and "found opportunities to improve the experience for members." There is a "cancel reaction" expected in each market where paid sharing is implemented, but increased revenue comes later as borrowers activate their own Netflix accounts and existing members add "extra member" accounts.

In Canada, paid sharing resulted in a larger Netflix membership base and an acceleration in revenue growth, which has given Netflix the confidence to expand it to the United States.

When Netflix brings its paid sharing rules to the United States, multi-household account use will no longer be permitted. Netflix subscribers who share an account with those who do not live with them will need to pay for an additional member. In Canada, Netflix charges $7.99 CAD for an extra member, which is around $6.

Prices are per person, and up to two additional people can be added to an existing Netflix Standard or Premium plan. The extra price provides each person with a profile, personalized recommendations, login, and password. Alternatively, people who share a Netflix account with someone outside of their household at the current time can initiate a profile transfer process that will allow the person who has free access to the account to make their own separate, paid account.

Netflix users will need to establish a primary location, and subscribers who are not at this location will not be able to use the service through that account. There are allowances for travel or second homes, with Netflix requiring users to open the Netflix app at the primary location once per month.

Netflix claims that more than 100 million households are sharing accounts, which is impacting its ability to "invest in and improve Netflix" for paying members.

Tag: Netflix

Top Rated Comments

tominco Avatar
6 weeks ago
If I'm paying for the 4 screen service, it shouldn't matter where those 4 screens are, especially if it's all family.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
6 weeks ago
Zero Worries. Canceled Netflix a long time ago and I don't have any regrets!
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdclifford Avatar
6 weeks ago

Their company, their rules, but it’s asinine to act like including more streams in the UHD package is helpful. Charge per resolution level, if you still think that’s coherent in 2023, and charge per simultaneous stream, wherever located, and the issue goes away.

Requiring me to buy additional streams I can’t use to get the resolution I want is lame. Perhaps to the point where I start to subscribe, binge anything attractive, and cancel rather than keep a subscription 12 months a year.
Maybe Netflix will next introduce a Black & White only service with ads for $4.99/mo?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eicca Avatar
6 weeks ago
“Love is sharing the password”
-Netflix themselves, not long ago.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
6 weeks ago
Does anyone still miss the Netflix DVDs? Who remembers those? Back in the days, it was OK to share/borrow DVDs without any problems.

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsplusmacs Avatar
6 weeks ago
I just wish the apple tv app would auto choose me, instead of me having to select a dang user every time.

Netflix.

It's just me.

Just auto log in please.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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