Is your Netflix bill about to skyrocket? The new password crackdown is hitting Australians hard
- Replies 14
Attention, streaming fans: the Netflix password-sharing crackdown is coming to Australia, and our online entertainment habits may be changed forever!
Our fellow Aussies have been getting a bit of a shock recently when they opened emails from Netflix outlining big changes to how login details and passwords should be used. If you've been happily sharing a Netflix account with family members or friends, buckle up.
Netflix is now using IP addresses to determine which devices are located in the main household and which are elsewhere, which affects many Australian families who share passwords or accounts with older parents or children who have recently moved out.
Often, we share passwords as a simple way to split the cost of Netflix between multiple households. But Netflix has had enough. With the streaming giant saying there are 'over 100 million households sharing accounts', they feel that it could be 'impacting [their] ability to invest in great new TV and films’.
In other words, folks, Netflix hasn't been getting paid by everyone who's watching – and they want that to change.
Fear not, though—they've presented a solution in the form of a new 'Extra member' option for users on the Standard or Premium plans. This will allow one or two users (plan dependent) to have their own account at a lower cost—$7.99 per month. However, it's worth noting that it will only work on one device in another location.
Already tested in Latin America, as well as Canada and New Zealand, this crackdown, despite causing some backlash, has resulted in positive outcomes for the company's bottom line. Netflix admitted that they 'see a cancel reaction in each market when we announce the news, which impacts near term member growth’.
The silver lining for Netflix? Any negative response is short-lived, as subscribers increase shortly after, with 'borrowers' signing up for their own accounts and existing members adding 'extra member' accounts. They've seen increased acquisition and revenue as a result—which means more great content for us all to binge!
However, prepare for potential disappointment. Many Aussies aren't exactly thrilled with the changes, and they're likely to follow in the footsteps of Canadians by flooding social media to express their disappointment.
But, from the looks of it, Netflix is unwavering in their purpose – determined to put an end to password sharing for good, not just in Australia but globally.
It’s quite a predicament for streaming fans. On the one hand, we’re all for fair play and supporting the creation of great content—but on the other hand, nobody likes a higher bill at the end of the month.
Stan, Australia’s largest homegrown streaming service, offers customers a wide variety of movies, TV shows and a ‘create your own’ feature that allows customers to curate their own library of content. Stan is also home to exclusive content that cannot be found on other streaming services.
Foxtel Now and Binge are two other streaming services that offer a wide selection of movies and TV shows; Foxtel Now caters to sports fans with their large selection of live and past matches, while Binge allows customers to watch their favourite shows with no ads.
Amazon Prime is another streaming service that offers customers a variety of movies and TV shows, as well as free two-day shipping and access to audiobooks. Apple TV+ features original movies and TV shows that are exclusively available on the platform, as well as the ability to rent and purchase movies and TV shows to watch instantly.
With all of these options available to customers, the question remains what streaming service to choose? Each one has its unique features and content library that provide customers with different viewing experiences.
To make the decision easier, customers should think about what type of content they watch the most and the features that are most important to them. Once they’ve weighed their options, they can decide which streaming service offers the best combination of features and content for them.
If you've been taking advantage of Netflix account sharing, it’s best to brace yourselves for the changes ahead. Let’s hope that Netflix keeps investing in great content to keep us entertained for years to come.
Members, we're eager to hear your opinions on this strategic decision made by Netflix. Do you believe it will have an impact on you? Are you considering switching to a different streaming service? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.
Our fellow Aussies have been getting a bit of a shock recently when they opened emails from Netflix outlining big changes to how login details and passwords should be used. If you've been happily sharing a Netflix account with family members or friends, buckle up.
Following extensive testing and successful launches in various regions across the globe, Netflix has officially declared its implementation of measures to combat password sharing in Australia. Photo by cottonbro studio
Netflix is now using IP addresses to determine which devices are located in the main household and which are elsewhere, which affects many Australian families who share passwords or accounts with older parents or children who have recently moved out.
Often, we share passwords as a simple way to split the cost of Netflix between multiple households. But Netflix has had enough. With the streaming giant saying there are 'over 100 million households sharing accounts', they feel that it could be 'impacting [their] ability to invest in great new TV and films’.
In other words, folks, Netflix hasn't been getting paid by everyone who's watching – and they want that to change.
Fear not, though—they've presented a solution in the form of a new 'Extra member' option for users on the Standard or Premium plans. This will allow one or two users (plan dependent) to have their own account at a lower cost—$7.99 per month. However, it's worth noting that it will only work on one device in another location.
Already tested in Latin America, as well as Canada and New Zealand, this crackdown, despite causing some backlash, has resulted in positive outcomes for the company's bottom line. Netflix admitted that they 'see a cancel reaction in each market when we announce the news, which impacts near term member growth’.
The silver lining for Netflix? Any negative response is short-lived, as subscribers increase shortly after, with 'borrowers' signing up for their own accounts and existing members adding 'extra member' accounts. They've seen increased acquisition and revenue as a result—which means more great content for us all to binge!
However, prepare for potential disappointment. Many Aussies aren't exactly thrilled with the changes, and they're likely to follow in the footsteps of Canadians by flooding social media to express their disappointment.
But, from the looks of it, Netflix is unwavering in their purpose – determined to put an end to password sharing for good, not just in Australia but globally.
It’s quite a predicament for streaming fans. On the one hand, we’re all for fair play and supporting the creation of great content—but on the other hand, nobody likes a higher bill at the end of the month.
Alternatives to Netflix in Australia
In this crackdown on password sharing, customers might be looking for an alternative to Netflix. Luckily, Australia has plenty of options for streaming services, including competitors with features that could rival those provided by Netflix.Stan, Australia’s largest homegrown streaming service, offers customers a wide variety of movies, TV shows and a ‘create your own’ feature that allows customers to curate their own library of content. Stan is also home to exclusive content that cannot be found on other streaming services.
Foxtel Now and Binge are two other streaming services that offer a wide selection of movies and TV shows; Foxtel Now caters to sports fans with their large selection of live and past matches, while Binge allows customers to watch their favourite shows with no ads.
Amazon Prime is another streaming service that offers customers a variety of movies and TV shows, as well as free two-day shipping and access to audiobooks. Apple TV+ features original movies and TV shows that are exclusively available on the platform, as well as the ability to rent and purchase movies and TV shows to watch instantly.
With all of these options available to customers, the question remains what streaming service to choose? Each one has its unique features and content library that provide customers with different viewing experiences.
To make the decision easier, customers should think about what type of content they watch the most and the features that are most important to them. Once they’ve weighed their options, they can decide which streaming service offers the best combination of features and content for them.
Members, we're eager to hear your opinions on this strategic decision made by Netflix. Do you believe it will have an impact on you? Are you considering switching to a different streaming service? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.
.png){kind=icon}
