Netflix trialling charging extra for sharing accounts with friends and family

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#2889531 21-Mar-2022 12:44

I've had a few issues with teenage kids sharing logins. If I see a device I don't recognise I change the password, logout all devices and give them all the new password a week later. They learn fast.

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#2889553 21-Mar-2022 13:12

I suspect this is the precursor to a new more expensive "family" package which say allows up to 5 household members to stream from anywhere.

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#2889556 21-Mar-2022 13:14

Netflix made 30 billion in 2021

networkn

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#2889663 21-Mar-2022 17:12

This should have a very straightforward definition. Those who primarily reside within one household.

If your kids are at Uni, they don't fit that definition. If they want a Netflix subscription, then perhaps they could drink two less alcoholic drinks a month :)

Netflix is stupidly good value and if you don't think so, unsubscribe.

I support Netflix's move here, they are simply asking people not to abuse functionality they have included for peoples convenience, and the additional fee they are proposing to compensate them for their losses is stupidly low too. Less than 1 alcoholic drink per month.

It goes to show that no matter how cheap something is, there will always people who will try and game the system to get it even cheaper.

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#2889680 21-Mar-2022 17:32

networkn:

Netflix is stupidly good value and if you don't think so, unsubscribe.

It goes to show that no matter how cheap something is, there will always people who will try and game the system to get it even cheaper.

I accept Netflix is way better value then the past options. They have done big percentage price increases in recent years amongst even more competitive offers which makes it no longer of value to me so have chosen to unsubscribe.

When had it I only shared it with people in same household. If they allow people to watch on mobile devices, not sure how they are going to enforce in future without causing inconvenience. Also some households have changing IP address’s, unless it is only the first time a device logs in.

They allow different profiles, maybe they’ll add a charge for each one. Without different profiles would mean last watch and up to would be all mixed up with what others have watched.

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#2889683 21-Mar-2022 17:41

I imagine they will employ something like, if you have 2 people streaming at the same time from two different IP's the third gets blocked.

This will capture almost all of the cheaters, but not inconvenience anyone who is legitimately using a connection.

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#2889688 21-Mar-2022 17:53

I remember lightbox had a system where it only allowed a certain number of devices, think it was 5, and you could remove one and add one a month. Maybe they could do something like that.

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#2889709 21-Mar-2022 19:25

Boeingflyer: Netflix made 30 billion in 2021

And?

networkn

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#2889711 21-Mar-2022 19:26

mattwnz:

I remember lightbox had a system where it only allowed a certain number of devices, think it was 5, and you could remove one and add one a month. Maybe they could do something like that.

Yeah, that would be a reasonable sort of idea I guess.

Sadly, they will find some much less sensible way, that is much more complex, is prone to failure and captures the wrong people in the net... :)

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#2889737 21-Mar-2022 21:08

networkn:

Boeingflyer: Netflix made 30 billion in 2021

And?

Also realise that "made" ≠ profit. Their FY2021 revenue was US$30B (rounded up). They spent US$17.7B on content (which they can use for years to come for the portion of this that they own the rights to). Their reported US GAAP profit was US$5.1B.

All I'm saying is that you shouldn't look at a revenue amount in isolation.

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#2889845 22-Mar-2022 00:26

networkn:

I imagine they will employ something like, if you have 2 people streaming at the same time from two different IP's the third gets blocked.

This will capture almost all of the cheaters, but not inconvenience anyone who is legitimately using a connection.

No, that does not work with CG-NAT. One household can come up on several different IP addresses - potentially in the worst case as many different IP addresses as there are streams.

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#2889852 22-Mar-2022 06:12

mattwnz:

I remember lightbox had a system where it only allowed a certain number of devices, think it was 5, and you could remove one and add one a month. Maybe they could do something like that.

I can think of one household where such a scheme would be a total disaster!

Doing a quick tally, I can count about 10 devices in our household of four that would regularly be used for Netflix, and at least another five that are logged into it.

Here’s hoping they find another means of restricting it, as otherwise I’m ok with the crackdown - I’m surprised how many in my family do sponge off others’ accounts, despite a clear ability to pay for a sub. If it’s as common as this in the wider community I can see why they’re doing this.

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#2889869 22-Mar-2022 08:31

networkn:

This should have a very straightforward definition. Those who primarily reside within one household.

Its going to be tricky (impossible?) to enforce without p1$$ing off legit customers.

How about watching on 4G?

What if I have a bach? You couldnt (shouldnt?) enforce based on IP address.

What if Im away on business and want to watch on my phone/laptop? You couldnt (shouldnt?) enforce based on IP address.

Legit example, I was in the states for several months with the family. The apartment we rented had a smart TV which we signed into with our account. So different country and different IP.

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#2889908 22-Mar-2022 10:17

mattwnz:

I remember lightbox had a system where it only allowed a certain number of devices, think it was 5, and you could remove one and add one a month. Maybe they could do something like that.

Oh hell no, that is a terrible way. I know a household which was always hitting that because of the kids tablets etc, multiple smart devices. After some time they refuse to help out with it and overriding the limits so the only solution is to close the account and open a new one.

Richard rich.ms

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#2889918 22-Mar-2022 10:39

tchart:

Its going to be tricky (impossible?) to enforce without p1$$ing off legit customers.

How about watching on 4G?

What if I have a bach? You couldnt (shouldnt?) enforce based on IP address.

What if Im away on business and want to watch on my phone/laptop? You couldnt (shouldnt?) enforce based on IP address.

Legit example, I was in the states for several months with the family. The apartment we rented had a smart TV which we signed into with our account. So different country and different IP.

Inevitably, some people are going to be hit in the crossfire and need to make a change to their viewing habits.

This is the consequence of the selfish people who abuse the system.

With the IP thing, how often legitimately would you have *more* than 2 people using 2 different IP's at the SAME time.

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