Disney Plus Takes Measures to Address Password Sharing in Canada

30 Sep, 2023

Disney Plus Takes Measures to Address Password Sharing in Canada

Disney Plus is taking steps to address password sharing in the streaming world. In a recent email to users in Canada, Disney announced new restrictions on the sharing of account credentials outside of a subscriber's household.

The updated Canadian Subscriber Agreement for Disney Plus explicitly states that users are not permitted to share their subscription with individuals outside their household, unless explicitly allowed by their account tier. Violations of this policy may result in Disney Plus limiting or terminating the user's service. The definition of "household" is defined as the collection of devices associated with a subscriber's primary residence and used by the residents living there, according to Disney Plus' help center.

These password-sharing restrictions are set to take effect for most Canadian users on November 1. However, annual subscribers in Quebec may see these changes implemented at a later date, depending on their billing cycle. Users who modify their plans before November 1 will experience the updates immediately, as stated in the email from Disney.

In addition to the password-sharing crackdown, November 1 also marks the launch of ad-supported tier offerings on Disney Plus in Canada and select European markets. This ad-supported tier was introduced in the U.S. in December 2022.

While these measures are being implemented in Canada, it remains unclear if similar household restrictions will be extended to other regions. When questioned, a Disney Plus spokesperson did not provide further details.

During an earnings call last month, Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger expressed the company's commitment to making its streaming services profitable. This includes a planned price increase for ad-free Disney+ and Hulu plans in the U.S. starting in October, as well as an ongoing effort to crack down on password sharing, expected to continue into the next year. Notably, Netflix has previously taken steps to combat password sharing as well.