We’ve learned Netflix will charge extra for shared account access outside the same home, a new feature test to increase rates on users.
The new crackdown is being tested in three markets: Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. During this testing period, subscribers in those countries will get a prompt to add users who aren’t in the same household for various rates, which they say are discounted: 2,380 CLP in Chile, 2.99 USD in Costa Rica, and 7.9 PEN in Peru.
News that Netflix will charge extra for shared account access outside the main household comes via a new blog update from the company, where Netflix director of product innovation Chengyi Long confirmed they’re testing the new crackdown those South American countries.
“We’ve always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account, with features like separate profiles and multiple streams in our Standard and Premium plans,” Long said in the update. “While these have been hugely popular, they have also created some confusion about when and how Netflix can be shared.”
The new policy comes a few months after Netflix also recently raised its monthly pricing structure for all users, a $1 increase for standard users and a $2 increase for premium users who want “4K streaming.”
Netflix is also rolling out another new feature for all users that will allow them to transfer profile information like viewing history and personalized recommendations to a new account, or even a different sub account.
This isn’t the first time Netflix has tried to limit password sharing from a main subscriber account and sub-accounts – last year the company added a verification system in several countries, but seemingly walked the policy back after enough negative feedback.
It’s worth noting Netflix’s terms of service actually does specify that a subscriber’s account “may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.” Many other service providers do severely limit access for users outside the main household, providing multiple levels of check and some big media companies even blocking outside access altogether.
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