Disney+ kicks off password sharing crackdown in New Zealand

Disney+ has officially entered the realm of password sharing crackdowns, and it looks like New Zealand is the latest battleground. If you’ve been sharing your Disney+ account with folks outside your immediate household, it’s time to brace for some significant changes.

Starting in 2023, Disney+, alongside Hulu in the US, signaled its intention to follow Netflix’s footsteps in curbing account sharing. This move, which initially rolled out in Canada, was designed to boost revenue by ensuring only paying subscribers are accessing content. Now, Disney is gradually implementing this policy in the US, UK, and beyond, with the most recent enforcement beginning in New Zealand.

A New Zealand-based Reddit user recently shared their experience of encountering the new restrictions. Upon attempting to access Disney+, they were met with a screen that essentially said, “Not so fast!” The message indicated that the TV they were using didn’t seem to be part of the Disney+ Household for that account. To continue streaming, they had to enter a code to verify their access.

The user mentioned that they are the account owner, but their parents, who live in a bus and travel the country, could no longer use the same account due to connecting to different Wi-Fi networks. This development suggests that Disney is using a combination of location data, device identification, and IP address ranges to enforce these new rules.

Disney+ has already begun notifying US subscribers, with emails sent out in February 2024 to give them a heads-up about the impending changes. The crackdown officially began in some regions on June 1, 2024, and is set to take full effect in the US by September 2024. This means that if you’ve been sharing your Disney+ account with people who aren’t living under the same roof, you’ll soon need to consider purchasing an ‘Extra Member’ option to continue doing so.

Interestingly, while the ‘Extra Member’ feature has been hinted at in updated Subscriber Agreement terms in the UK as of July 2024, Disney+ has yet to officially announce this paid sharing feature. The exact cost and rollout plan for this option remain unclear, but it seems likely to become available in the coming months as the crackdown expands. Below is a screenshot from a support page:

If you’re caught sharing your account with someone outside your household, Disney+ may take action. The service could limit or even terminate access to your account. While it’s unlikely that Disney+ will take legal action against ordinary users, account restrictions or closures are on the table.

During an interview with CNBC in April 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the password sharing initiative would begin in earnest in September. He also clarified that this would be a gradual rollout, starting with select regions like the US and UK before expanding globally by the end of 2024. The arrival of these restrictions in New Zealand hints at an imminent wider rollout.

Disney+ isn’t the only streaming service cracking down on password sharing. As the streaming wars heat up, more companies are likely to follow suit, introducing new subscription models and restrictions to maximize revenue. While this might mean more costs for consumers, it could also lead to a shake-up in how streaming services bundle and price their offerings.

For now, if you’re in New Zealand or other regions where the crackdown has started, it may be time to reevaluate your account-sharing habits. The era of freely sharing your Disney+ login with friends and family far and wide may soon be a thing of the past. And if you’re still waiting for these changes to hit your region, it might be a good idea to start thinking about how you’ll adapt when they do.