Netflix warns password cheats

[BusinessTech]

Netflix warns password cheats

A coalition that includes Netflix Inc, HBO and cable-industry titans is stepping up efforts to crack down on password sharing, discussing new measures to close a loophole that could be costing companies billions of dollars in lost revenue each year.

 

[Bryn]

I don't understand the problem. Your account tier includes x number of simultaneous streams. That number cannot be circumvented and is built-in protection against account sharing.

I'm also sceptical that Netflix is interpreting its geographical data correctly. The nuclear family has become less and less common. Kids may live with a parent who isn't paying for the family Netflix account, or one of the kids might live with a particular parent, or they may be using mobile connections that don't indicate the same IP address etc. etc. You can't box in the permitted family structures, which is why a simultaneous stream limit has to suffice as protection from abuse.

 

[hellfire]

I actually agree with this, to an extent.
Netflix. as an example, isn't prohibitively expensive. Freeloaders will end up making the service more expensive for those of us that actually pay.

 

[MrGray]

Was that "per household" clause always buried in their T&Cs? They've always marketed their packages with a stream limit and conveniently not mentioned that detail. Maybe a deliberate strategy here? Get everyone hooked and then turn the screws.

 

[MrGray]

I actually agree with this, to an extent.
Netflix. as an example, isn't prohibitively expensive. Freeloaders will end up making the service more expensive for those of us that actually pay.

Not sure about this - if they sell a package for four simultaneous streams they must have costed it for that. Unless they were hoping that people mostly wouldn't ever use the limit (and when they found out that wasn't the case - voila "per household").

 

[konfab]

This isn't rocket science, just look at their pricing:

Basic: 1 account = R100/ screen
Standard: 2 accounts = R70 per screen
Premium: 4 accounts = R42.5 per screen

Then they had the bright idea of bundling the only 4k option in with the premium. Therefore for users that wanted the 4k option for 1 screen are being forced to pay for 3 other screens. This is now a sunk cost for them , therefore there is no reason for them to not share their accounts.

Netflix could clear this up very easily by splitting off the 4k option into a separate booster for any set of screen accounts.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I actually agree with this, to an extent.
Netflix. as an example, isn't prohibitively expensive. Freeloaders will end up making the service more expensive for those of us that actually pay.

But there are no freeloaders?

Everyone is paying for X streams based on their package choice.

On the contrary doing this might LOSE them money as people simply turn back to piracy.

The "openness" Netflix had for sharing is what won their favour with so many people.

Also if this will mean I can no longer Netflix while travelling they can go fly a big ass kite.