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Streaming services have gradually restricted the ability to share passwords among individuals not residing in the same household. Now, in a similar effort to Netflix, Disney Plus has announced plans to curb password sharing, starting with users in Canada.
Effective November 1st, this crackdown comes as a surprise, given that Disney CEO Bob Iger initially hinted at implementing such a measure next year. Nevertheless, the new Canadian support page now states, “You may not share your subscription outside of your household.” Similar to Netflix, Disney defines “household” as a cluster of devices associated with the primary personal residence, exclusively for use by the individuals living there. Additionally, the company will hold exclusive rights to analyze account usage and restrict access to the service if it detects any violations.
Moreover, with the password-sharing crackdown, Canadian users will also gain access to Disney’s cheaper ad-supported tier. This has been available in the US since 2022 and has proven to be a successful alternative. With the new ad tier, users will experience around 4 minutes of ads per streaming hour, which is acceptable compared to the 15-20 minutes of ads in regular TV shows.
A potential new tier
Disney Plus’s password-sharing crackdown aligns with other streaming giants. However, there might be a potential loophole for users concerned about losing password-sharing privileges. This is because the updated agreement states that the restriction may only apply “unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier.” This suggests that Disney could be working on introducing new subscription plans, allowing password sharing across different houses.
However, the company might also adopt Netflix’s strategy. It offers users the option to pay an extra monthly fee to extend account access beyond their immediate household. If implemented, this move would align with the industry’s trend. It adopts policies to address password-sharing challenges and protect revenue streams.
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