Wave Goodbye to Shared Disney+ Accounts
Ever found yourself knee-deep in your best buddy’s cousin’s Disney+ library? Well, it’s time to start waving goodbye to those cozy movie nights on someone else’s dime. Bob Iger, the big boss over at Disney, spilled the beans in a casual chat with CNBC about putting the brakes on password sharing across the globe this summer. And guess what? They already pulled the plug on this little ‘sharing is caring’ scenario for folks in Canada last fall.
But Did This Really Come Out of the Blue?
Not really. Disney’s wallet watcher, CFO Hugh Johnston, had already hinted at this move during an earnings gabfest back in February. “Looks like there’s cash in those couch cushions if we stop the sharing party,” he might as well have said. “And hey, our rivals are already cashing in on it.” He also teased us with talk of “very specific actions” coming our way. Oh, and Hulu? They’ve been riding the same wave since March 14, showing shared passwords the door, reinforcing that this was more of a ‘when’ than an ‘if’ moment for Disney.
Everyone’s Jumping on the Bandwagon
It’s not just a Disney drama – streamers left and right are locking down on the ol’ share-a-roo, and it’s shaking things up in their favor. Take Netflix, for instance. Their signups in the States shot up by a whopping 102% right after they said ‘no more Mr. Nice Guy’ to password pilferers. That’s a lot of folks deciding Netflix nights are worth the personal price of admission. And Max? They’re not dragging their heels either, with plans to tidy up their own house by 2025.
When’s D-Day for Disney+?
The mouse house is drawing lines in the sand, with the first wave of changes rolling in come June for some likely suspects, and a second wave for the rest come September. As for where Uncle Sam’s backyard stands in all this? The jury’s still out, but Disney’s promised to dish the dirt closer to showtime. And, in case you’re wondering, hanging out in Disney’s ad-filled wonderland will set you back $8 a month, or $14 for an uninterrupted magic carpet ride.
So, if you’ve been mooching off your friend’s great aunt twice removed, it might be time to consider getting your own golden ticket to the magic kingdom. Because, let’s face it, the world of shared passwords is fast becoming a thing of fairy tales, and Disney+ is making sure of that.
