Disney+ To Crack Down On Password Sharing To Stop 'Freeloaders'

Bad news for any of you freeloaders out there - if you thought Netflix cracking down on password sharing was tragic enough, we’re afraid to say Disney+ is following suit… 

The global streaming giant announced it will be implementing measures to tackle password sharing starting from this September, so you essentially have just a few weeks left to take advantage of any account-sharing you may be doing!

If you’re wondering what this ‘crack down’ involves, you’ll no longer be able to share the same login credentials outside a single household, which - unfortunately for you uni students out there - means no more sponging off the family account...

This is a move that has been in the works since June according to Disney CEO Bob Iger.

The goal is to encourage more users to subscribe to their own accounts rather than relying on shared access from family or friends - a strategy that has proven successful for Netflix. This approach comes as Disney's streaming division has finally turned a profit after years of losses, reporting an operating profit of $47 million in the last quarter, a significant improvement from the $512 million loss reported the previous year.

Disney+ also saw its subscriber base grow, ending the quarter with 118.3 million households, marking a 1% increase from the previous quarter. The company's overall entertainment sector posted a remarkable operating profit of $1.2 billion, three times higher than the same period last year, largely driven by the success of the animated blockbuster Inside Out 2 which has so far grossed $1.56 billion.

But it seems the streaming platform is keen to continue with its growth and is turning to restrictions on account sharing to achieve this...

When Netflix implemented similar measures as well as hiking its monthly subscription fees during the cost of living crisis, it faced widespread criticism - and it seems people are equally riled by Disney's plans to increase its subscriber base.

Speaking on the plans, one X user wrote: "The death of streaming is approaching at a million miles per hour."

Another commented: "Raising prices AND cracking down on password sharing with the government driving inflation up like this is a great way to kill your customer base."

If you're not too pleased with the news either but want to continue streaming your favourite Disney shows, we have something that might just soften the blow a little...

As a TOTUM member, you can save over 15% with a 12-month subscription to Disney+! So even if you're having to open your own account for the first time, at least you can make a great saving in the process.

Plus, you'll also get access to a whole host of other discounts on entertainment, such as SKY and Amazon Prime!