The Netflix login page is seen on a laptop screen and the Netflix logo displayed on a phone screen in this pictogram taken in Krakow, Poland on January 2, 2023.
Jacob Borzycki | Norphoto | Getty Images
Netflix On Wednesday it outlined its long-awaited password sharing guidelines, starting with users in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain, marking the latest step in the company’s Telegram campaign.
The streaming company said users in those countries will be asked to set a “primary location” for their Netflix accounts. They can create two “sub-accounts” for users who do not live in that household, for a monthly fee for each additional user: $7.99 CAD in Canada, $7.99 NZD in New Zealand, €3.99 in Portugal and €5.99 in Spain.
“Today, more than 100 million households participate in the accounts — which affects our ability to invest in great new TV shows and movies,” said Qingye Long, the company’s director of product innovation.
Netflix is testing its password sharing restrictions outside the US before it rolls out domestically in March. The price in Canada can predict what you’ll eventually pay for the program’s US debut.
The changes announced Wednesday will be rolled out immediately, along with a new “Manage access and devices” page that will allow users to take care of who has access to their accounts.
Users who wish to save additional monthly fees for “sub-accounts” can transfer profiles to a new account. Transferred profiles will retain all of their personal recommendations and viewing history from the original account.
Netflix said it plans to revisit and improve the new account management page based on user feedback.
The user guidance comes after the operator posted a huge subscriber numbers win in the fourth quarter and announced that former CEO Reed Hastings would be stepping down.
The company announced last fall that it would limit password sharing as subscriber growth stalled in the US and Canada region.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct that Netflix users will pay a monthly fee for a Sub Account. An earlier version got the cost structure wrong.