Netflix is about to stop one of the most popular features of its streaming platform and millions won’t be happy. For years, users have been able to share their passwords with friends and family allowing them to binge on boxsets or view endless blockbuster movies without paying for a subscription. This way of watching content remains hugely popular but it’s about to be stopped with Netflix confirming that it will begin charging anyone piggybacking on accounts from next year.
The full fees have yet to be revealed but the firm has been trialling this update in parts of South America where extra users have been forced to pay around £2 extra per month to add another home to their account.
That is a lot cheaper than paying full price but it could still cause some resentment from those who are currently getting this option for free.
To try and soften the blow Netflix has also launched a new option to “Transfer Profile to a New Account”. This allows those who are being forced to set up their own account to make it easier to transfer an existing profile – including recommendations, viewing history, My List, settings, saved games and more.
Speaking about the upcoming changes, the firm said: “After listening to consumer feedback, we are going to offer the ability for borrowers to transfer their Netflix profile into their own account, and for sharers to manage their devices more easily and to create sub-accounts (“extra member”), if they want to pay for family or friends.
“In countries with our lower-priced ad-supported plan, we expect the profile transfer option for borrowers to be especially popular.”
There’s no official word on when the new fees will come into force but don’t expect to continue getting free Netflix for much longer.
As well introducing this new big change to subscriptions, Netflix is also about to launch a cheaper monthly plan that will show adverts during shows.
Netflix’s Basic with Adverts plan will be available from Thursday November 3 and will cost just £4.99 – that’s £2 less than the Basic tier and £4 less than the Standard tier (which is the most popular option around).
That sounds enticing although subscribers will have to sit through adverts that last between 15 to 30 seconds, with these commercials airing before and during a programme.
Not only that, but users won’t be able to download shows to watch offline and the ad-supported Netflix plan will have a smaller library than the regular plans without ads.
A Netflix spokesperson confirmed: “A limited number of films and TV series won’t be available due to licensing restrictions, which we’re working on; there’s no ability to download titles.”
With the cost of living crisis hitting household budgets hard, Netflix has been having a pretty rough ride with the streaming giant haemorrhaging subscribers. Despite launching exclusive new shows and boosting its content, it’s thought that around 1.5 million users have already decided to switch off and stop using the service since the start of the year.
That number could grow over the coming months and this is clearly why the firm is launching cheaper ways to watch and ending password sharing.
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