As we flagged earlier this year, NETFLIX are sending out letters to their customers warning them about the changes to PASSWORD SHARING.
Starting today, NETFLIX will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in Australia.
A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are – at home, on the go, on holiday – and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.
We recognise that our members have many entertainment choices. It’s why we continue to invest heavily in a wide variety of new films and TV programmes – so whatever your taste, mood or language and whoever you’re watching with, there’s always something satisfying to watch on Netflix.
The new Pricing plans reflect these changes, with the set of plans remaining the same, however Standard ($16.99) and Premium ($22.99) account holders will have a new option of adding an “Extra member” to their account.
An Extra Member account will cost $7.99 – and give the user access on a single screen in that second household, but at the HD or 4K resolution of the main account. Importantly, that “Extra Member” is not billed directly, instead, their membership is paid for by the main household account.
Anyone using your account that is not at your home will get a notice that they are not in the primary household when they try and log in:
This brings an end to the grandparents sharing your password, and the kids who left home sapping off mum and dad’s account.
WHAT IS AN EXTRA MEMBER?
An Extra member is a new user, with their own username and password, their own Netflix account, but it’s paid for on your primary account.
So my mother-in-law, can get Netflix for less than $10, but it has to be on my account and I have to pay.
Those Extra members can only watch on 1 device at a time.
Standard and Premium plans are the only ones which allow for an Extra member, with Premium getting two extra member accounts if desired
People who are not in your household will need to sign up for their own account to watch; or in many countries you can buy an extra member slot to add an extra member to your account.
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Add an extra member
Account owners on a Standard or Premium plan in many countries can share Netflix with someone who doesn’t live with them by adding an extra member to their account. -
The account owner will need to purchase an extra member slot, then invite an extra member to use the extra member slot.
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The extra member must be activated in the same country where the account owner created their account.
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Extra members cannot be added to Netflix-included packages or third-party billed accounts.
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Extra members cannot be added to ad-supported plans.
When starting a new account or adding an extra member, a profile can be transferred from an existing account, including recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games, settings, and more.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING?
Netflix say you can use your Laptop or iPad outside of home as long as it logs into home once a month.
That means you just open Netflix on your device before you go and enjoy.
It also means if your “extra member” is only using an iPad, they can keep it running by brining the device to you once a month.
How hotel room TVs fit into this I don’t know yet, but I’m sure it won’t take long! Netflix’s own announcement about password sharing says “Members can still easily watch Netflix on their personal devices or log into a new TV, like at a hotel or holiday rental”
CAN I AVOID THE NEW NETFLIX PASSWORD SHARING CRACKDOWN?
No sorry, this is the way it is, and frankly, other companies may follow soon.