Following the success of Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing, which saw them add over twenty million subscribers, it’s hardly surprising that other streaming services are looking to do the same, with both Disney+ and Max set to follow Netflix’s lead this summer.

During the recent quarterly financial results investor question and answer call, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the Password sharing crackdown is currently already underway in many countries around the world and is set to begin rolling out in the United States in September.

Iger also confirmed that the company hasn’t had any negative backlash to its password-sharing crackdown yet.

We started our password sharing initiative in June. That kicks in, in earnest in September. By the way, we’ve had no backlash at all to the notifications that have gone out and to the work that we’ve already been doing.

Netflix also ran experiments in different countries prior to fully enforcing it everywhere.   During that time, they were able to tweak the system to see how far they could push it before getting feedback, and it’ll be interesting to see if Disney has tried the same thing.

Earlier this year, Disney updated the terms and conditions for subscribers regarding account sharing. The company has also been very public during investor calls and interviews, which has helped spread the word that this is coming. So, it should be less of a surprise when people start getting popups on their screens informing them they might need to organise their accounts.

Disney’s official FAQ states:

You may not share your subscription outside of your household. ‘Household’ means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the people who live there.

If you share your account with someone who doesn’t live with you, just be prepared that you may get a message sooner rather than later.  This message will either happen onscreen via the Disney+ app or via an email, from the account holder at some point later this year.

Disney still hasn’t announced full details on how you’ll be able to add additional households to your account, so hopefully, this information will be confirmed in the coming weeks ahead.

Roger’s POV:  Much like other streaming services, the days of people sharing accounts across multiple households aren’t going to last forever.  We know it’s coming, and if you are sharing your password with someone who doesn’t live with you, be prepared that, eventually, things could change.  Prior to that, it’s worth checking to see if you, or those you share with, potentially have access to a Disney+ subscription via their cable, mobile or internet provider, since it’s often included in those bundles.   Alternatively, look into potentially moving to the ad-supported tier to save money or taking out one of the bundles with Hulu or Max.

The big difference is going to be when the password crackdown begins in the US and becomes a global crackdown.  People might not like it, but Netflix has shown it works and they are making more money from it, hence why its all happening!

What do you think of Disney+ cracking down on password sharing?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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