Disney to Implement Password-Sharing Crackdown on Its Streaming Platforms in September

If you think the password-sharing is only exclusive to Netflix, think again, as the password-sharing crackdown bug has now hit Disney, who announced the crackdown for their streaming platforms Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN+ during an earnings call.

Disney CEO Bob Iger made the password-sharing crackdown announcement, saying “We started our password-sharing initiative in June,” adding “that kicks in, in earnest, in September.”

Iger added that the company did not receive any backlash following the work they have been doing.

“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,” Iger said.

This latest development in Disney’s streaming venture comes as the business finally turned a profit, with the company reporting a USD47 million profit from Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.

Disney has struggled to make their streaming venture profitable after launching it in 2019.

Streaming platforms have turned a blind eye on password-sharing for years now. Streaming giant Netflix even encouraged it at one point.

Netflix tweeted “Love is sharing a password” on March 10, 2017 while promoting Love, its original series.

The tweet had over 15,000 likes and over 4,600 retweets.

However, all good things come to an end–and that means no more password-sharing, as the streaming giant implemented their password-sharing crackdown in May 2023 that started in the US, UK and Australia, with crackdowns on other countries worldwide following suit.

A Netflix primary account holder now has to add an additional user, for an additional fee.

The crackdown appeared to have worked in the streaming giant’s favor, as the Wall Street Journal reported an uptick in new subscribers in June 2023, one month after the crackdown started. (GFB)