The crackdown on Disney Plus password sharing is starting sooner than expected – here’s what you need to know
Disney+ has already admitted it will take tougher action against users who share passwords, copying a similar move by rival Netflix.
Now the first phase of the procedure appears to have arrived.
As the unofficial fansite whatsondisneyplus first noted, Disney+ has just updated its subscriber agreement to prohibit password sharing.
Anyone who does not comply can be excluded from using Disney+, according to the new subscriber agreement.
The ban on password sharing is expected to coincide with the rollout of advertising on Disney+ in the UK and other countries on November 1.
Disney+ is set to follow in the footsteps of rival streaming service Netflix and toughen its stance on password sharing
The new subscription agreement, sent to users in a lengthy email, states: “Unless your service plan permits otherwise, you may not share your subscription outside of your household.”
““Household” means the collection of devices associated with your primary residence and used by the people living there.
“We may analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement.”
“If we determine that you have violated this Agreement, we may restrict or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other action permitted by this Agreement.”
It’s unclear exactly how the password sharing ban will work on Disney+; MailOnline has contacted the company for further information.
Instead of just getting people to agree to the new subscriber agreement, additional steps could be taken to prevent the practice of password sharing, similar to what Netflix has done.
Netflix tracks IP addresses and device IDs to determine the location of devices that use a Netflix profile – and to ensure they are all in a single household.
In addition to a huge catalog of Disney films, the offering on Disney+ also includes The Simpsons, Star Wars and Marvel films such as The Avengers
This allows Netflix to know whether an account is being used on a “trusted device” – in other words, whether it is in the same location as other devices using the account.
If there are discrepancies or suspicious signs, Netflix may block the “untrusted” device from accessing the account.
Alternatively, Netflix users who still want to share their account with people in another household will need to sign up for paid sharing. The cost is £4.99/month ($8/month in the US) – which ultimately increases the company’s profits.
Just months after Netflix rolled out its password ban globally, Disney announced it would be following suit.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said last month that the platform would crack down on password sharing, but suggested this would not be enforced until next year.
During the company’s quarterly earnings call, the CEO said Disney+ will ““We will introduce tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024” – suggesting that further measures to enforce the ban are indeed planned next year.
At the time, Disney+ also announced that it would roll out advertising to users in the UK and other European countries on November 1, after rolling out to US users in December 2022.
Disney CEO Bob Iger (pictured) announced last month that his streaming platform would be cracking down on password sharing
Here, too, the platform seems to be based on Netflix, which introduced advertising in November 2022.
In fact, Amazon Prime Video announced last week that it would also introduce advertising for users from the beginning of 2024.
Disney explains: “Advertisements are typically shown before the start of the video and throughout playback – similar to what you would expect from commercials during a traditional television broadcast.”
These tiers, which launch on November 1st, are Standard with Ads (£4.99 per month), Standard (no adverts, £7.99 per month) and Premium (no adverts, £10.99). £ per month).
Premium will be the most expensive, as it offers 4K video quality, “immersive” Dolby Atmos audio and up to four simultaneous streams.
There’s currently only one fixed price for Disney+ in the UK – £7.99 a month – but the entertainment giant is copying Netflix by introducing “tiers”.
In comparison, Standard and Standard with Ads only allow simultaneous streams.
Premium and Standard don’t force customers to watch ads and allow shows to be downloaded to devices for offline viewing – but the same doesn’t apply to the new ad tier.
In addition to the UK, these three tiers are also being introduced in several other European countries – including France, Germany, Norway, Spain and Sweden – as well as in Canada.
For some reason, Disney+ only has two tiers in the US: $7.99 per month with ads or $10.99 per month without ads.
What video streaming options are available to UK customers?
Netflix
Price: £4.99 per month (with ads) OR £10.99/month for Standard OR £15.99/month for Premium
Hit shows:
Amazon Prime
Price: £8.99 per month OR £95 per year
Hit shows:
- Jack Ryan by Tom Clancy
- The young
Apple TV+
Price: £6.99 per month
Hit shows:
- Ted Lasso
- For all humanity
Disney+
Price: £7.99 per month OR £79.90 per year
Hit shows:
- The Mandalorian
- The simpsons
Watch TV NOW
Price: From £6.99 per month (6 months) or £9.99 (flexible)
Hit shows:
- game of Thrones
- Chernobyl
hayu
Price: £4.99 per month
Hit shows:
- Keeping Up With the Kardashians
- Made in Chelsea
BritBox
Price: £5.99 per month OR £59.99 per year
Hit shows:
- Likeness
- Midsomer Murders
Prices correct as of September 2023