Disney+ launches comprehensive crackdown on sharing passwords with “Extra Members”

Following Netflix’s lead, Disney has rolled out a comprehensive program aimed at converting Disney+ password borrowers into paying customers.

This week, Disney+ began notifying subscribers that its paid sharing options are generally available – offering users new ways to pay for access to Disney+ on behalf of family or friends outside their household who may have used their accounts illegally.

Disney+ paid sharing features and functionality are now available in the US, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe and Asia Pacific after launching in select markets over the summer.

“Your Disney+ subscription is intended for use in your household, a collection of devices connected to your primary residence and used by the people who live there,” the company explains in a message to customers. Anyone living outside of a Disney+ customer’s household “must sign up and pay for their own subscription or be added to your account as an additional member for an additional monthly fee to continue enjoying Disney+.”

In the US, an Extra Member Profile costs an additional $6.99 per month for Disney+ Basic subscriptions and $9.99 per month for Disney+ Premium subscriptions. Currently only one additional membership spot is available per main account; Additionally, the Extra Member option is not available to Disney Bundle subscribers or to subscribers billed through third-party partners. Disney+ account holders can transfer an eligible profile to a new subscription or additional member to maintain that profile’s Disney+ watch history and settings.

The expanded rollout of Disney+ paid sharing comes less than a month before U.S. prices are set to rise: Effective October 17, Disney+ Basic (with ads) will increase from $7.99 to $9.99/month, and Disney+ Premium (no ads) launches from $13.99 to $15.99/month. Disney is also increasing prices for Hulu, ESPN+ and its multi-service packages.

The company noted that Disney+ users traveling outside of their household will still be able to access the service. “If you’re out and about and see the message “This TV doesn’t appear to belong to this account’s household,” you can mark yourself as “I’M AWAY FROM HOME” or select “UPDATE HOUSEHOLD” when you select “UPDATE HOUSEHOLD.” “I recently moved and need to reset the household location for your Disney+ subscription,” Disney said. In these circumstances, login requires a one-time passcode sent to the email address associated with the account.

Disney also plans to crack down on password sharing at Hulu and ESPN+. Ahead of the enforcement action, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ notified U.S. customers earlier this year of changes to their subscriber terms and conditions that now expressly prohibit users from sharing their login information with anyone other than their primary residence.

The updated subscription agreements for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ state: “Unless your service level permits otherwise, you may not share your subscription outside of your household.” The term “household,” according to the agreements, means the collection of devices “that are part of your primary residence assigned and used by the people living there”.

“We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement,” the updated terms read. “If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated this Agreement, we may restrict or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other action permitted by this Agreement.”

Disney is copying Netflix’s successful move to curb the piggyback password. Netflix executives are crediting the comprehensive account sharing initiative, which launched last year in more than 100 countries, with helping to grow subscribers. Warner Bros. Discovery has said it will roll out a similar password sharing enforcement program for Max this year.