Disney+ password-sharing crackdown is now in the US: What to know
FILE - Close-up detail of the Disney+ app icon on an Apple iPhone 12 Pro smartphone screen, on Nov. 11, 2020. (Photo by Phil Barker/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Disney has officially unveiled details of its crackdown on password sharing in the U.S., joining Netflix in limiting the sharing of account passwords among friends and family to boost potential new subscribers.
Disney first began the crackdown in June in select markets, and said the company would ramp up the policy "in earnest" in September. On Wednesday, the company announced that Disney+ had expanded its paid sharing program to U.S. users, as well as those in Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
For anyone who’s been watching Disney+ on someone else’s account, there’s now a paid sharing program – meaning users can pay for access to the platform on behalf of family members or friends outside their household.
"Your Disney+ subscription is meant to be used within your Household, which is a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there," Disney said this week in a blog post.
"But what about people outside of your Household? They will need to sign up and pay for their own subscription or be added as an Extra Member to your account for an additional monthly fee to continue enjoying Disney+," the company added.
How much does an extra member on Disney+ cost?
Account holders who want to add someone outside their household to their Disney+ subscription can do so with the "Extra Member" add-on.
In the U.S., an Extra Member profile costs an additional $6.99 per month for Disney+ Basic subscriptions and $9.99 per month for Disney+ Premium subscriptions, the company said.
Only one Extra Member slot is available per account, Disney said. It’s also not available for Disney Bundle subscribers or "for subscribers billed through our partners at this time."
Prices increasing for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+
The password-sharing crackdown comes ahead of Disney’s plans to increase how much it charges for subscriptions to Disney+, as well as Hulu, and ESPN+.
In addition, one of its bundles for Disney+ and Hulu and its Hulu + Live TV offerings will cost more, according to the company.
Beginning on Oct. 17, the monthly U.S. price for the ad-supported Disney+ subscription will become $9.99 and the ad-free plan will hit $15.99, Disney said. Those both represent $2 increases.
For Hulu, the ad-supported plan will also receive a $2 hike, rising to $9.99 per month. Hulu (No Ads) will increase from its current $17.99 per month to $18.99.
Meanwhile, Disney said it will start asking $82.99 per month for Hulu + Live TV with ads and $95.99 for the ad-free version.
The company is increasing ESPN+’s monthly subscription to $11.99 – up from $10.99.
Disney’s Duo Basic Bundle – which gives subscribers the ad-supported versions of Disney+ and Hulu together – will require $10.99 each month. While it is receiving a $1 hike, the premium ad-free version will keep its $19.99 per month price, the company said.