Disney+ cracking down on password sharing, raising subscription fees: What to know

[Kennywood]

(NEXSTAR) — Disney CEO Bob Iger wasn’t goofing around last month when he warned the company would be going after password sharing on its streaming services “in earnest” in September. In addition to its crackdown, Disney+ is raising subscription fees for some plans.

On Wednesday, Disney+ representatives said the service has “expanded its paid sharing program to give its users ways to enjoy their Disney+ subscription along with a family member or friend, through the management of devices within a household.”

While the program doesn’t expressly go after password sharing — the practice of giving your account login to a friend or family member who doesn’t live with you — Disney’s paid sharing is notably similar to Netflix’s own efforts to crack down on account sharing.

As Netflix did, Disney+ warns your subscription “is meant to be used within your household.” If you’ve been sharing your account with someone who does not live within your household, Disney+ says they will need to get their own subscription or be added as an extra member for an additional monthly fee.

For Disney+ Basic accounts, an extra member will cost an additional $6.99 a month. On Disney+ Premium plans, the additional fee is $9.99 a month. Only one extra member is available per account and is not available if you have a Disney bundle or are billed through another partner.

You’ll also need to verify your household devices as paid sharing rolls out. If you move, you will be asked to “update household.” If you’re traveling, you’ll have to confirm you’re “away from home” and enter a one-time passcode to access your Disney+ account.

For now, it appears paid sharing has only been rolled out to Disney+ and not Disney’s other streaming platforms, Hulu and ESPN+.

All three will, however, see plan prices rise on October 17.

Plan	Current monthly price	Monthly price on Oct. 17, 2024
Disney+ Basic	$7.99	$9.99
Disney+ Premium	$13.99 ($139.99 annually)	$15.99 ($159.99 annually)
Disney Bundle Duo Basic	$9.99	$10.99
Disney Bundle Trio Basic	$14.99	$16.99
Disney Bundle Trio Premium	$24.99	$26.99
Legacy Disney Bundle (existing customers only)	$18.99	$21.99
ESPN+	$10.99 ($109.99 annually)	$11.99 ($119.99 annually)
Hulu (With Ads)	$7.99 ($79.99 annually)	$9.99 ($99.99 annually)
Hulu (No Ads)	$17.99	$18.99
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)	$76.99	$82.99
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)	$89.99	$95.99
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)	$81.99	$87.99
Live TV Only	$75.99	$81.99

Disney did not immediately provide details on why it’s raising subscription fees.

Earlier this month, DirecTV reached a deal with Disney, ending a nearly two-week-long dispute that left millions without ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels. Neither company provided financial details about the agreement, but it did also give DirecTV the ability to offer Disney’s video streaming services a la carte as well as in its own bundled packages. DirecTV won the right to include ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service at an additional cost to its subscribers once it becomes available.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/disney-cracking-down-password-sharing-175117222.html

 

[BrianL]

View attachment 898357
(NEXSTAR) — Disney CEO Bob Iger wasn’t goofing around last month when he warned the company would be going after password sharing on its streaming services “in earnest” in September. In addition to its crackdown, Disney+ is raising subscription fees for some plans.

On Wednesday, Disney+ representatives said the service has “expanded its paid sharing program to give its users ways to enjoy their Disney+ subscription along with a family member or friend, through the management of devices within a household.”

While the program doesn’t expressly go after password sharing — the practice of giving your account login to a friend or family member who doesn’t live with you — Disney’s paid sharing is notably similar to Netflix’s own efforts to crack down on account sharing.

As Netflix did, Disney+ warns your subscription “is meant to be used within your household.” If you’ve been sharing your account with someone who does not live within your household, Disney+ says they will need to get their own subscription or be added as an extra member for an additional monthly fee.

For Disney+ Basic accounts, an extra member will cost an additional $6.99 a month. On Disney+ Premium plans, the additional fee is $9.99 a month. Only one extra member is available per account and is not available if you have a Disney bundle or are billed through another partner.

You’ll also need to verify your household devices as paid sharing rolls out. If you move, you will be asked to “update household.” If you’re traveling, you’ll have to confirm you’re “away from home” and enter a one-time passcode to access your Disney+ account.

For now, it appears paid sharing has only been rolled out to Disney+ and not Disney’s other streaming platforms, Hulu and ESPN+.

All three will, however, see plan prices rise on October 17.

Plan	Current monthly price	Monthly price on Oct. 17, 2024
Disney+ Basic	$7.99	$9.99
Disney+ Premium	$13.99 ($139.99 annually)	$15.99 ($159.99 annually)
Disney Bundle Duo Basic	$9.99	$10.99
Disney Bundle Trio Basic	$14.99	$16.99
Disney Bundle Trio Premium	$24.99	$26.99
Legacy Disney Bundle (existing customers only)	$18.99	$21.99
ESPN+	$10.99 ($109.99 annually)	$11.99 ($119.99 annually)
Hulu (With Ads)	$7.99 ($79.99 annually)	$9.99 ($99.99 annually)
Hulu (No Ads)	$17.99	$18.99
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)	$76.99	$82.99
Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)	$89.99	$95.99
Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads)	$81.99	$87.99
Live TV Only	$75.99	$81.99

Disney did not immediately provide details on why it’s raising subscription fees.

Earlier this month, DirecTV reached a deal with Disney, ending a nearly two-week-long dispute that left millions without ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels. Neither company provided financial details about the agreement, but it did also give DirecTV the ability to offer Disney’s video streaming services a la carte as well as in its own bundled packages. DirecTV won the right to include ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service at an additional cost to its subscribers once it becomes available.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/disney-cracking-down-password-sharing-175117222.html

Very informative post.

Man, how I wish I could get an annual bundle of D+ & Hulu Premium. It's ridiculous that you can't get the annual price on that.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The whole things is BS and money grabbing.

Until last year my sister and I lived together so we had one account but now just because we don't live together we would have to pay more when neither of us use it that often?
No thanks we will just cancel.
I do not cater to these streaming services.

 

[starry_solo]

The whole things is BS and money grabbing.

Until last year my sister and I lived together so we had one account but now just because we don't live together we would have to pay more when neither of us use it that often?
No thanks we will just cancel.
I do not cater to these streaming services.

Just make sure you don't use it at the same time!

 

[Brian Noble]

Disney did not immediately provide details on why it’s raising subscription fees.

It's such a mystery!

/s

 

[Kit Jackson]

I'm glad they included a free vacation option. Sometimes, I stay with a family member who does not have Disney+, but we like to watch things together. It's great that I will be able to watch what I am already paying for without paying extra when I go for a visit. I hope they include the same option with Hulu.

 

[BrianL]

I'm glad they included a free vacation option. Sometimes, I stay with a family member who does not have Disney+, but we like to watch things together. It's great that I will be able to watch what I am already paying for without paying extra when I go for a visit. I hope they include the same option with Hulu.

Yes, you can always watch your account anywhere - you just may have to verify that it's you. That's how Netflix does it - my friend can sign in on my TV and it will send a verification code to his phone. Actually, once verified, the Netflix continues to wok at my house for a while. It usually only calls it if he is using it at home and I try to. Not that I do that a lot or anything.

 

[NightGuardianAngel]

As for me, hopefully it is like Netflix since I can switch the household to my motorhome if I am traveling and staying in my motorhome while on vacation and switch it back after I get home. I still want to access Disney Plus in my motorhome along with all my other streaming services just like I am at my main house since my motorhome is an extension to my house. If Disney Plus jacks the price up one more time (I am paying annual for premium, then I may cancel it especially since I mostly watch the classics on it). My local public library has tons of Disney movies (on DVD and Blu Ray) as well as lots of other wonderful movies I can check out for free (paid for by my property taxes) as long as the movies are returned by the due date. The public library is often overlooked as a great alternative to streaming. Not to mention, at my local library, video games can be checked out also.