Netflix Inc has expanded its password-sharing crackdown to more than 100 countries, informing users that their accounts cannot be shared for free outside of their households.
On Thursday, July 20, the streaming giant announced that it has ended password sharing in India, stating that only members of a household will be able to access a single account.
The restrictions on password sharing were previously implemented in more than 100 countries, including significant markets like the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil.
A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are - at home, on the go, on holiday - and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices
Furthermore, Netflix now allows paying customers to add an extra member from outside their household, albeit at an additional monthly expense. To make the process easier, members can transfer a person's profile while keeping viewing history and personalised recommendations, according to media reports.
Netflix said early this year that more than 100 million households were sharing accounts at the service, "impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films."
Netflix has more than 231 million paid subscribers in 190 countries. It is estimated that 100 million households share their password, which makes it difficult for the company to invest in new content. Netflix's crackdown on password sharing helped the company add nearly 6 million subscribers globally in the second quarter of 2023.
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Netflix's password-sharing crackdown helped the company add nearly 6 million subscribers globally in the second quarter of 2023. Subscribers can still watch programs on mobile devices when they're travelling. People who aren't paying for an account and are just using a friend's password will ultimately be cut off.
MANAGE DEVICES: Review your device list on the Manage Account Access page and sign out the devices you don't want to access.
TRANSFER A PROFILE: You can transfer a profile to someone who is paying for a new membership via your account.
BUY AN EXTRA MEMBER: If you want to share your Netflix account with someone who doesn't live with you, you'll need to pay an additional $7.99/month.
Netflix's password-sharing crackdown helped the company add nearly 6 million subscribers globally in the second quarter of 2023. In November, 2022, Netflix announced a $7-per-month ad-supported package in an effort to boost sales and subscriptions. And in May, the streaming giant launched paid sharing in over 100 countries, representing more than 80 per cent of the company's revenue base.
Revenue in each region is now higher than pre-launch, with sign-ups already exceeding cancellations, according to Netflix. The company further mentioned that the paid net additions were 5.9 million in the second quarter (Q2) of this year. Also, now the paid sharing is rolling out to almost all of the remaining countries.
That's a really strong confirmation that we've got an approach that we can apply in many different countries with different market characteristics, including our largest revenue countries
Moreover, the streaming giant said that it "phased" out the Basic ads-free plan for new and rejoining members in Canada (existing members on the Basic ads-free plan are unaffected) in Q2. Now, it is doing the same in the US and the UK.
Here’s everything you need to know about the end of Netflix password sharing:
Who can use a Netflix account now?
"Netflix accounts are still shareable, but only within one household. To ensure that your devices are associated with your primary location, Netflix is now asking users to connect to the Wi-Fi at your primary location, open the Netflix app or website, and watch something at least once every 31 days," the company said in its FAQ.
Netflix will set a primary location based on IP address, device IDs and activity if a user hasn't specified a primary location or doesn't have a TV.
How Netflix detects devices outside a household
Netflix use information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity from devices signed into the account. With the new terms, users are asked to specify their TV as their primary location, and the same Wi-Fi network as the TV should be used to connect all accounts and devices.
"A primary location is set by a TV that is signed into your account and is connected to your Wi-Fi network. All other devices signed into your account on that Wi-Fi network will be associated with your primary location and will be able to use Netflix," the company said.
Netflix will set a primary location based on IP address, device IDs and activity if a user hasn't specified a primary location or doesn't have a TV.
Netflix is now asking users to connect to the Wi-Fi at your primary location, open the Netflix app or website, and watch something at least once every 31 days
Can you still use Netflix while traveling?
Netflix should not require you to verify your device if you are the primary account holder. You may be asked to verify your device if you are away from the Netflix household for an extended period of time. You need to verify that the device is authorised to use the account
Signing into Netflix outside of your home without verification may lead to the device in use being blocked from Netflix. This could prevent you from signing into new devices while traveling. When signing into Netflix from a hotel smart TV, company laptop, etc., traveling users can request a temporary code. Their account will be accessible for seven consecutive days.
Who can watch at the same time?
It all depends on which plan you've chosen. Netflix has four distinct price tiers, and the number of concurrent streams varies depending on which tier you subscribe to. Each plan determines how many devices can play Netflix at the same time, as long as those devices belong to people in the same household.
Sharing with someone who doesn’t live with you
You must use your own account for anyone who doesn't live in your home to watch Netflix. "Netflix may ask you to verify a device before it can be used to watch or change your Netflix household if it logs in to an account or is used frequently outside of your home. This is done to ensure that the account can legitimately be used by the device. You will not be charged if you share your Netflix account with someone who does not live with you.
How to verify a device:
- Netflix sends a link to the primary account owner's email address or phone number.
- The link refers you to a page with a four-digit verification code.
- Within 15 minutes, the code must be entered on the device that requested it. (If the code expired, you will need to request a new verification code from the device.)
- Once completed, the device can be used to watch Netflix.
- Periodic device verification may be required.
- If you suspect unauthorized use of your account, you can immediately reset your password. You can also sign out of all connected devices.
The company introduced two features -- Spatial Audio and more download devices. With Spatial Audio, Netflix members with Premium will be able to enjoy the highest quality sound experience available, whether they are watching at home on TV or a computer, or on the go with a phone or tablet.
The streaming giant said that, "spatial audio brings an immersive, cinematic sound experience on any device with no additional equipment required -- and now it's available on more than 700 of our top watched titles, including 'Stranger Things', 'The Watcher', 'Wednesday', and 'Knives Out: Glass Onion'".
Moreover, the company mentioned that Netflix members like the option to download series and films to watch offline on more devices, particularly as they travel and switch between devices. To make this possible, Netflix introduced the "more download devices" option, which will increase the number of download devices from four to six for premium members, so members can watch Netflix on their devices anytime, anywhere.
- IANS
With inputs from IANS, Reuters, Bloomberg and AFP
