Beginning 1 November, Disney Plus is tightening the screws on password sharing, but only for its Canadian customers. The streaming giant announced the change in an email to Canadian subscribers, though the company needs to be more sparse with details on how it will enforce the new policy. The announcement reads like a stern warning: “You may not share your subscription outside of your household,” according to the updated Help Centre.
A section in the Canadian subscriber agreement explicitly focusing on “account sharing” outlines that Disney Plus reserves the right to “analyse the use of your account.” Failing to adhere to the guidelines may result in account restrictions or even termination.
Background on password sharing in the industry
This move comes over a month after Disney’s Q3 earnings call, where CEO Bob Iger mentioned that the company was “actively exploring” options to curtail shared accounts. According to Iger, many people share passwords across Disney’s services, but the company has the “technical capability” to monitor such activities.
Disney Plus is not alone in this endeavour. Netflix has also been experimenting with similar restrictions for over a year, including in the US, since May 2023. According to Netflix’s Q2 earnings call, these limitations have increased subscriptions.
The next chapter in the streaming wars
On a lighter note, Canadian Disney Plus users can now opt for a cheaper, ad-supported tier. But one thing’s clear: the battle for subscription dollars in the streaming world is heating up, and this latest policy change could make the landscape even pricier for consumers.
