Disney is making the same dreaded change as Netflix – fans are so furious they’re threatening to cancel their accounts
DISNEY+ has hinted that it will ban password sharing, following in the controversial footsteps of streaming competitor Netflix.
Suggestions about the move have already caused Disney+ subscribers to be furious and vowing to end the service.
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In a conference call on the results, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company was “actively exploring ways to address account sharing.”
He admitted the number of people who shared passwords through Disney’s services was “significant,” but declined to give an exact number.
Iger added that later this year, Disney will “begin updating our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies, and will also introduce “motivational tactics” in 2024.
In late May, Netflix rolled out its crackdown on account sharing in the UK and US (along with 100 other countries), becoming the first streaming giant to do so.
At the time, many believed it was a snowball trend among rivals like Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
And Igor’s comments today suggest viewers were right.
Netflix tracks its users’ IP addresses (as well as device IDs and account activity) to determine whether viewers are in the same household or not.
The Disney boss, who has been at the helm for more than 20 years, noted that the company has the “technical ability” to oversee signups.
“While it’s likely that you’ll see some impact in Calendar 24, it’s possible that… work won’t be completed within the calendar year,” Iger added.
“But we’ve definitely made this a real priority and actually believe there’s an opportunity here to help us grow our business.”
Subscribers are waiting in the wings to cancel their contracts when official action is taken against the sharing of passwords.
“Thanks for notifying me if I need to cancel,” wrote a subscriber on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“Just pay your employees, Bob. The greed is plain to see,” wrote another, citing the company’s wage dispute with employees that has led to a writers’ strike across Hollywood.
price increases
Additionally, Disney announced price increases for its subscriptions — and a new premium tier — after Spotify made its own cost increases a few weeks ago.
All new customers will pay the following rates when they sign up for the streaming service starting November 1:
- Disney+ Standard (with ads) – £4.99 per month
- Disney+ Standard (no ads) – £7.99 per month (or £79.90 annually)
- Disney+ Premium – £10.99 per month (or £109.90 annually)
Existing customers will be automatically upgraded to the Premium tier starting November 1st, but must switch to a cheaper subscription before December 6th.
After that date, those customers will be billed at the new rates beginning their next billing cycle.
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