Disney+ is gearing up to launch a full-scale crackdown on password sharing starting in September, as confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger. This initiative has been in the works for over a year, following Netflix's successful implementation of similar measures in May. Disney's move marks a significant step in its efforts to curb unauthorized account usage and boost subscriber revenue.
Iger discussed the upcoming changes during Disney's quarterly earnings report, indicating that the crackdown will begin "in earnest" next month. While details remain sparse, it is expected that Disney+ will encourage users found sharing passwords to sign up for their own accounts. Additionally, the company has hinted at introducing paid sharing options for an extra fee, though specifics are yet to be disclosed.
Disney+ has not provided extensive information on how it will technically enforce the anti-password sharing measures. However, the company plans to "analyze the use of your account" to ensure that Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions are confined to a single household. This approach mirrors Netflix's strategy, which relies on data such as addresses, account activity, and device IDs to determine if a device is associated with the account's primary location.
The timing of this crackdown coincides with upcoming price increases for Disney's streaming services. Starting in October, the ad-supported Disney+ plan will rise from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, while the ad-free tier will go up from $13.99 to $15.99 per month. These changes apply to Hulu and ESPN+ as well.
As Disney+ prepares to enforce these new measures, subscribers who rely on shared accounts may soon need to decide whether to pay for their own access. Will you be affected by the crackdown? Share your thoughts in the comments.