Disney+ Launches New Password Sharing Crackdown in the U.S.

Subscribers can now add an extra member outside their household for a monthly fee

Disney+ has officially begun enforcing its password-sharing crackdown in the U.S., along with other regions like Canada, Europe, and parts of Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. The crackdown introduces a new feature where account holders can add an “extra member” who lives outside of their household for a fee. On the basic plan, adding an extra member costs $6.99 per month, while on the premium plan, it costs $9.99 per month. However, this feature is limited to only one additional member per account, and it’s not available to subscribers who use Disney’s bundle or are billed through third-party services.

Disney defines a “household” as all the devices connected to the primary residence of the account holder, which are used by the people living there. If users want to add someone outside of this household, they will have to pay the extra member fee. Another option for those sharing accounts is to transfer their profile to a new subscription, keeping their settings and watch history intact. However, certain profiles, such as those for minors or those in junior mode, cannot be transferred.

Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, first mentioned the planned crackdown during an earnings call in August 2023. Since then, U.S. subscribers were informed of the upcoming changes in January 2024, when Disney updated its terms of service. The company also plans to implement similar measures for its other platforms like Hulu and ESPN+.

Subscribers traveling or who have recently moved can update their household details or mark themselves as “away from home” using a one-time passcode sent via email.

This move by Disney+ follows a similar initiative by Netflix, which introduced its own password-sharing restrictions to increase subscriber and revenue growth. Other streaming services like Max are also expected to follow suit, with a broader rollout planned for 2025​.

Source: The wrap