Netflix rolling out new password sharing restrictions in some countries

[Power Man]

Namely Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain.

Who is dumping it?

Click to read more...

 

[Peasy]

Never paid for the account I was using. Certainly wont suddenly start paying. Guess they'll just get less views on their shows.

Every streaming app will start doing this in the future. We're basically back at cable.

 

[beowulf]

Don't get why people are up in arms. Pay for what you use if you don't live at the same address. How are companies supposed to make money if 3 different households are using the same account?

 

[barriers]

Don't get why people are up in arms. Pay for what you use if you don't live at the same address. How are companies supposed to make money if 3 different households are using the same account?

They're asking for more money even for the same household to use their own account. If I had a smart TV at work I used myself with my own account I would either need to pay extra every month to add myself to my own account or bring that TV home and connect it to my home ISP every 3 weeks. Same deal for those with cottages, those who travel constantly, split families who aren't always residing together, among other examples. Netflix isn't cracking down on password sharing, they're making the entire service worse and more inconvenient for EVERYONE.

My subsription ends on the 25th after 9 years and 8 months of continual subscription with my password never shared outside my household. Netflix content and service quality are declining precipitously and they cancel any decent property they get rolling after a few seasons anyway.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Oh no, people have to pay for the services they use?

THE OUTRAGE!

 

[beowulf]

They're asking for more money even for the same household to use their own account. If I had a smart TV at work I used myself with my own account I would either need to pay extra every month to add myself to my own account or bring that TV home and connect it to my home ISP every 3 weeks. Same deal for those with cottages, those who travel constantly, split families who aren't always residing together, among other examples. Netflix isn't cracking down on password sharing, they're making the entire service worse and more inconvenient for EVERYONE.

My subsription ends on the 25th after 9 years and 8 months of continual subscription with my password never shared outside my household. Netflix content and service quality are declining precipitously and they cancel any decent property they get rolling anyway after a few seasons anyway.

That's not how I read it, if you are in the same house paying for the 3 tv package or whatever you still get 3 tvs able to work at the same time. I did the thing they ask to confirm you main address and they just ask for your home address, so any tv or device that is used from that address (i.e. the same wifi/internet connection) is fine and same with if you travel with one of the devices that is linked to your home address.

I then used my laptop in Montreal at my parents place this past weekend after I did the confirmation and had no issues and no extra charges. So travelling is not an issue. at least so far.

Netflix's Password-Sharing Crackdown Has Begun: Everything to Know

Netflix launched new fees in four countries last week, and more are coming.

www.cnet.com

The current policies hinge on your account's "primary location" and the devices that connect to the Wi-Fi network there. Netflix help-center pages say your primary location is the main place you watch Netflix; you can set this primary location through a series of steps in the Netflix app on a TV. A Netflix spokeswoman said that members may get an "interstitial" message to set their primary location -- basically, a pop-up prompt on your TV's Netflix app.

Netflix's help-center pages also say that if a primary location hasn't been set, the service will automatically set one based on IP address, device IDs and account activity. However, the help-center pages also say that if you don't watch Netflix on a TV (or don't have one), you do not need to set a primary location for your account. (CNET reached out for clarification, but Netflix declined to specify further.)

Regardless, Netflix's help center also says the company doesn't collect GPS data to to determine precise physical location of your devices. "We use the IP address from the Netflix device or app to assume its general location (such as city, state/province, and postal code)," the policies state. "For example, your primary location may be displayed as 'near city, state/province.'"

You can also update or change your primary location from a TV anytime.

Oh no, people have to pay for the services they use?

THE OUTRAGE!

Pretty much...

 

[barriers]

That's not how I read it, if you are in the same house paying for the 3 tv package or whatever you still get 3 tvs able to work at the same time. I did the thing they ask to confirm you main address and they just ask for your home address, so any tv or device that is used from that address (i.e. the same wifi/internet connection) is fine and same with if you travel with one of the devices that is linked to your home address.

I then used my laptop in Montreal at my parents place this past weekend after I did the confirmation and had no issues and no extra charges. So travelling is not an issue. at least so far.

Netflix's Password-Sharing Crackdown Has Begun: Everything to Know

Netflix launched new fees in four countries last week, and more are coming.

www.cnet.com

The current policies hinge on your account's "primary location" and the devices that connect to the Wi-Fi network there. Netflix help-center pages say your primary location is the main place you watch Netflix; you can set this primary location through a series of steps in the Netflix app on a TV. A Netflix spokeswoman said that members may get an "interstitial" message to set their primary location -- basically, a pop-up prompt on your TV's Netflix app.

Netflix's help-center pages also say that if a primary location hasn't been set, the service will automatically set one based on IP address, device IDs and account activity. However, the help-center pages also say that if you don't watch Netflix on a TV (or don't have one), you do not need to set a primary location for your account. (CNET reached out for clarification, but Netflix declined to specify further.)

Regardless, Netflix's help center also says the company doesn't collect GPS data to to determine precise physical location of your devices. "We use the IP address from the Netflix device or app to assume its general location (such as city, state/province, and postal code)," the policies state. "For example, your primary location may be displayed as 'near city, state/province.'"

You can also update or change your primary location from a TV anytime.


Pretty much...

The changes aren't in effect yet and if you stayed at your parents for 3 weeks without going home and watching something on Netflix on that laptop on your set primary location you will be prevented from using your own account,

Netflix' new policy entails that you MUST watch something on Netflix every 21 days, on EVERY device you would hope to use, at your primary location or you will not be able to access your own account while elsewhere.

 

[beowulf]

The changes aren't in effect yet and if you stayed at your parents for 3 weeks without going home and watching something on Netflix on that laptop on your set primary location you will be prevented from using your own account,

Netflix' new policy entails that you MUST watch something on Netflix every 21 days, on EVERY device you would hope to use, at your primary location or you will not be able to access your own account while elsewhere.

Where does it say that I have not seen it yet. And from the CNET article you can update your primary location at any time so if for whatever reason I had to stay in Montreal for a month to help my older parents I could change the location to their place and then change it back when I am back at my house in Ottawa.

I still don't see it as a big deal especially when I know people that have one account used by 3 even 4 separate households. And they still can stay on at a lower fee of $7.50 when compared to a full package price.

It's like when people complained about music sharing back in the day and when there were crackdowns. Why shouldn't a band/musician want a crackdown on file sharing as that means they very well lose album sales.

 

[Peasy]

That's not how I read it, if you are in the same house paying for the 3 tv package or whatever you still get 3 tvs able to work at the same time. I did the thing they ask to confirm you main address and they just ask for your home address, so any tv or device that is used from that address (i.e. the same wifi/internet connection) is fine and same with if you travel with one of the devices that is linked to your home address.

I then used my laptop in Montreal at my parents place this past weekend after I did the confirmation and had no issues and no extra charges. So travelling is not an issue. at least so far.

You're completely misunderstanding what he is saying. Hes saying if he has a smart TV at work that has Netflix, he would now have to pay for an additional account to use netflix on that TV (because its not at his home location, who the f*** wants to lug a TV back to their home once a month?).

This also applies to any devices that you use netflix on that arent located or easily brought to your home location.

Say youre a trucker out on the road for month+ long periods, welp you gotta purchase another account and add it to your profile if you want to watch Netflix.

Not sure why so many people just take it with a smile on their face from these multi-billion dollar companies. Yeah man, they really need to penny pinch their subscribers even more, they'd fold without it!!! /s

Just look at what Netflix was 10 years ago compared to what it is now. You get way less content, and have to pay way more and jump through a buncha hoops. But these companies can get away with this because the majority of the public just sit there and take it.

 

[barriers]

Where does it say that I have not seen it yet.

I'll try to dig it up later if I remember. I'm at work and going to sites like Netflix or Reddit is more frowned upon than hfBoards

 

[beowulf]

You're completely misunderstanding what he is saying. Hes saying if he has a smart TV at work that has Netflix, he would now have to pay for an additional account to use netflix on that TV (because its not at his home location, who the f*** wants to lug a TV back to their home once a month?).

This also applies to any devices that you use netflix on that arent located or easily brought to your home location.

Say youre a trucker out on the road for month+ long periods, welp you gotta purchase another account and add it to your profile if you want to watch Netflix.

None of that is being enforced and like the CNET article says nobody knows yet how hard it will be enforced etc.

And is anyone surprised they need to find income somewhere. It's like people complaining that when it first started in Canada Netflix was 8$ a month and is now about double that and even up to 21$ for the highest plans I think. The difference is when they were 8$ they mostly or exclusively showed other companies content via rights agreements they signed. Then they changed to making their own content so of course the price will go up.

I can only hope they do this in a fair manner but as of the latest data that was reported here in Canada, Netflix had about 250M paying users worldwide of which 100M share there passwords with at least 1 other person/location. That's a lot of people getting it for free.

 

[Peasy]

None of that is being enforced and like the CNET article says nobody knows yet how hard it will be enforced etc.

Yes that is how it is being enforced... I've already seen people that have had convos with Netflix customer support and this is exactly what they are saying.

 

[barriers]

None of that is being enforced and like the CNET article says nobody knows yet how hard it will be enforced etc.

That's what the entire policy is! If your device has not used Netflix within 21 days at your set household you will be locked out of your own account that you pay for on that device.

 

[beowulf]

That's what the entire policy is! If your device has not used Netflix within 21 days at your set household you will be locked out of your own account that you pay for.

I guess we shall see if they extend that depending on customer feedback and how many accounts they lose. Companies always adjust this kind of stuff which is why Canada is a Guinea pig and it's not in the US yet as their biggest market.

 

[beowulf]

I am also willing to bet we will see the same thing happening from other streamers sooner than later. Disney+ is already losing subs and the others are not doing as well as they hoped in general so they will either flop or charge more to survive and hope they don't lose too many people.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

I wouldn't be too hard on people who share passwords ... Netflix themselves has promoted the practice in the past. Certainly their right to change their policy but it is something that the company has endorsed at times and has absolutely contributed to their viewership stats.

They've said they're going to do this in the U.S. too.

I'm interested to see how this shakes out. It'll be a real test of what's important to Netflix — paid subs vs. viewer growth — and of what viewers want — do they actually like your content or do they just watch it cause it's free via a shared password?

Me personally, I'm going to just let it go. Though I know it's the dominant service by numbers it's actually the one I watch the least so when my brother-in-laws password goes, so go I.

Reminds me a little of the crossroads that daily newspapers hit with the internet. Gave the content away for free so long that when they hit the point where they needed to make people pay, most wouldn't. Subscription revenue for many in a downward spiral since.

 

[Peasy]

I wouldn't be too hard on people who share passwords ... Netflix themselves has promoted the practice in the past. Certainly their right to change their policy but it is something that the company has endorsed at times and has absolutely contributed to their viewership stats.

They've said they're going to do this in the U.S. too.

I'm interested to see how this shakes out. It'll be a real test of what's important to Netflix — paid subs vs. viewer growth — and of what viewers want — do they actually like your content or do they just watch it cause it's free via a shared password?

Me personally, I'm going to just let it go. Though I know it's the dominant service by numbers it's actually the one I watch the least so when my brother-in-laws password goes, so go I.

Reminds me a little of the crossroads that daily newspapers hit with the internet. Gave the content away for free so long that when they hit the point where they needed to make people pay, most wouldn't. Subscription revenue for many in a downward spiral since.

And theyve already added in ways to get more money for people that share their accounts by adding the screen limits. They've just decided to take it another step forward...

 

[beowulf]

I wouldn't be too hard on people who share passwords ... Netflix themselves has promoted the practice in the past. Certainly their right to change their policy but it is something that the company has endorsed at times and has absolutely contributed to their viewership stats.

They've said they're going to do this in the U.S. too.

I'm interested to see how this shakes out. It'll be a real test of what's important to Netflix — paid subs vs. viewer growth — and of what viewers want — do they actually like your content or do they just watch it cause it's free via a shared password?

Me personally, I'm going to just let it go. Though I know it's the dominant service by numbers it's actually the one I watch the least so when my brother-in-laws password goes, so go I.

Reminds me a little of the crossroads that daily newspapers hit with the internet. Gave the content away for free so long that when they hit the point where they needed to make people pay, most wouldn't. Subscription revenue for many in a downward spiral since.

The difference is that news sites can also make money via ads on the site and unlike before, many countries are now mandating that sites like Google or MSN from Microsoft now I believe have to pay the content creator aka newspaper, for showing the articles via their platforms. Netflix does have an adds tier now but not sure how many people have gone to that to save on the subscription costs.

As for sharing password and Netflix promoting it, totally agree even their CEO tweeted about it in like 2016 but times change and revenue has to come from somewhere.

Yes that is how it is being enforced... I've already seen people that have had convos with Netflix customer support and this is exactly what they are saying.

No clue is that is legit and if it is, that the person who replied from Netflix is giving the right information. As someone who worked in a call center for Bell when I was in university I can tell you the quality of the replies some colleagues at the time gave varied greatly. Guess we shall see where it goes from here.

Tesla owners omitted from Netflix’s new password-sharing policies.
edit: also should note that Tesla owners are exempt for now, at least their car is given how it moves around so we might see more of that in the future.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

The difference is that news sites can also make money via ads on the site and unlike before, many countries are now mandating that sites like Google or MSN from Microsoft now I believe have to pay the content creator aka newspaper, for showing the articles via their platforms. Netflix does have an adds tier now but not sure how many people have gone to that to save on the subscription costs.

As for sharing password and Netflix promoting it, totally agree even their CEO tweeted about it in like 2016 but times change and revenue has to come from somewhere.


No clue is that is legit and if it is, that the person who replied from Netflix is giving the right information. As someone who worked in a call center for Bell when I was in university I can tell you the quality of the replies some colleagues at the time gave varied greatly. Guess we shall see where it goes from here.

Tesla owners omitted from Netflix’s new password-sharing policies.
edit: also should note that Tesla owners are exempt for now, at least their car is given how it moves around so we might see more of that in the future.

Yeah the newspaper analogy isn't exactly the same, but I do think the core issue applies -- it's hard to make people pay for something they're used to getting for free.

Will be interesting to see if Netflix sees a similar struggle.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Not sure why so many people just take it with a smile on their face from these multi-billion dollar companies. Yeah man, they really need to penny pinch their subscribers even more, they'd fold without it!!! /s

Just look at what Netflix was 10 years ago compared to what it is now. You get way less content, and have to pay way more and jump through a buncha hoops. But these companies can get away with this because the majority of the public just sit there and take it.

Exactly. I'm not shedding tears for Netflix here and no one else should either, IMO. The only reason they've been relevant this long is because they have allowed password sharing, and literally embraced it in the past.

The quality of their product has gone WAYYYY downhill, and now they want people to pay for content they've been enjoying for free/fraction of the price.... I generally don't pirate content, as I have quite a lot of streaming services right now, but if there's anything Netflix exclusive I want to watch I'll just pirate it in the future.

The same with NHL games, they made the games so hard to actually access that I simply just watch every game through pirated streams. Now the NHL is crying that their viewership is down, when in reality most of the 22% (or whatever number) have just switched to pirate sites.

 

[beowulf]

Yeah the newspaper analogy isn't exactly the same, but I do think the core issue applies -- it's hard to make people pay for something they're used to getting for free.

Will be interesting to see if Netflix sees a similar struggle.

Hey people love getting stuff for free or as cheap as they can and we are so use to using social media for free but it really is not with the money these companies make selling your data. I wonder how many people who pay to keep Facebook or You Tube.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

My immediate family uses this. We had 4 households using 1 top tier account (22 dollars, we had 1 screen each). In light of the new rule 3 households are dropping it rather than pay more (we couldnt even have split it anyways due 3 location limit), and 1 is considering maybe a basic 9.99 account for just a couple months here and there rather than consistent paying like before.

You can argue the PR, the "rightness" of it all you want, but I don't think no matter how you look at it that this is a good business move. I feel like our situation is not unique, that this is going to cost them ALOT of subscribers. I really think they just torpedoed themselves as a company.

 

[beowulf]

Exactly. I'm not shedding tears for Netflix here and no one else should either, IMO. The only reason they've been relevant this long is because they have allowed password sharing, and literally embraced it in the past.

The quality of their product has gone WAYYYY downhill, I generally don't pirate content, as I have quite a lot of streaming services right now, but if there's anything Netflix exclusive I want to watch I'll just pirate it in the future.

The same with NHL games, they made the games so hard to actually access that I simply just watch every game through pirated streams. Now the NHL is crying that their viewership is down, when in reality most of the 22% (or whatever number) have just switched to pirate sites.

And I won't cry for you if you get caught and sued. Not likely to happen but people said that about pirating movies and music until a lot of people got screwed and were sued by the owners of the content. And it happens...

Hundreds of thousands of people here in Canada get warning letters about pirating content and thousands end up being sued and the average case ends up with the person having to pay out about $5,000.

Ken Clark has sued thousands of Canadians for streaming pirated movies. Is he a troll — or a hero?

Clark and his law firm send out more than 100,000 warnings every year, and have sued thousands of Canadians, winning out-of-court settlements of up to $5,000 in most cases. Some say he’s harassing regular people for profit — but to others, he’s Canada’s copyright cop

www.thestar.com

 

[Rodgerwilco]

And I won't cry for you if you get caught and sued. Not likely to happen but people said that about pirating movies and music until a lot of people got screwed and were sued by the owners of the content. And it happens...

Hundreds of thousands of people here in Canada get warning letters about pirating content and thousands end up being sued and the average case ends up with the person having to pay out about $5,000.

Ken Clark has sued thousands of Canadians for streaming pirated movies. Is he a troll — or a hero?

Clark and his law firm send out more than 100,000 warnings every year, and have sued thousands of Canadians, winning out-of-court settlements of up to $5,000 in most cases. Some say he’s harassing regular people for profit — but to others, he’s Canada’s copyright cop

www.thestar.com

I'm not sure how to take this comment, to be honest with you Beo... If Netflix wants to sue me for watching season 5 of Breaking Bad then that's their prerogative and that's the risk I take then, I suppose.

This sentiment reminds me of the early 2000s when there were commercials out there about the dangers of pirating music which was backtracked on VERY quickly.

The fact that the article you linked is stuck behind a paywall is deliciously ironic, lol. Seems like a greasy small-time lawyer trying to make a buck off of normal people. I'm not Canadian, so hopefully I'll be spared from the wrath of the Champion of the Anti-Pirates, Ken Clark.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

My immediate family uses this. We had 4 households using 1 top tier account (22 dollars, we had 1 screen each). In light of the new rule 3 households are dropping it rather than pay more (we couldnt even have split it anyways due 3 location limit), and 1 is considering maybe a basic 9.99 account for just a couple months here and there rather than consistent paying like before.

You can argue the PR, the "rightness" of it all you want, but I don't think no matter how you look at it that this is a good business move. I feel like our situation is not unique, that this is going to cost them ALOT of subscribers. I really think they just torpedoed themselves as a company.

I think they will be just fine.