Disney+ is not ignoring the success of Netflix with its anti-account sharing plan. The streaming platform which hosts licenses from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Disney will also deploy a tougher strategy in 2024.
Netflix significantly toughened its policy against account sharing in 2023 and it paid off. Netflix’s subscriber base exploded last year. This is not the only cause of the streaming giant’s success, but it is undeniably one of the keys that has allowed the American company to garner tens of millions of subscribers and additional dollars.
Netflix’s tactic was accompanied by a price increase and a withdrawal of the Netflix Essential formula. It was also supported by the release of some major programs (the end of Sex Educationthe first season of One Piecethe spin-off Queen Charlotte…). A profitable strategy, which would have helped Netflix win the streaming war.
Disney+ doesn’t like account sharing either
It is undoubtedly too early to know how the SVOD landscape will recompose itself, but in 2024, Disney+ should follow in the footsteps of Netflix regarding account sharing. According to information from CNN, broadcast on January 31, measures will be taken to prevent access outside the home.
The offensive against password sharing should begin on March 14, according to an email addressed to customers of Hulu, a Disney+ subsidiary. The turn of the screw should affect both Hulu and ESPN+ (another subsidiary of the entertainment giant), and also Disney+, the company’s flagship in streaming.
In the general subscription conditions for France, last updated in September 2023, the ban on sharing an account is already stipulated. On the American side, CNN reports that the three user contracts (for Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+) were updated on January 25, 2024.
“ Unless permitted by your subscription offering, you may not share your subscription outside of your household. By household, we mean all the devices associated with your main personal residence and which are used by the people who reside there “, we read in the French contract.
We read further that Disney reserves “ the right to control the use [du] account in order to verify compliance [des règles] “. If an infraction is observed, Disney has the option to limit or terminate access to the platform. It is the same thing in the event of detection of a VPN, the use of which to access other catalogs is prohibited.
An anti-account sharing strategy to be clarified
The tightening of Disney’s policy in this area was expected. In August 2023, the big boss, Bob Iger, mentioned the implementation of a plan similar to that of Netflix concerning sharing the account outside the home. He then mentioned updating the conditions of use to reflect this shift.
We do not know the number of Internet users in this scenario, but Bob Iger mentioned a portion “ significant » clearly justifying taking action. In any case, the business manager declared that this policy will be a “ priority » from the group for Disney+. It now remains to be seen the details of this plan.
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