Streaming Service Implements Password Sharing Restrictions

which right now has been fairly soft and cancelable – start to get more fixed, and such that people have to take action,” said Warner Bros. Discovery streaming head JB Perette. Right now, paid sharing is a voluntary process, but that’s about to change.

This move by HBO Max follows similar actions taken by Netflix and Disney+ to crack down on password sharing. While HBO Max introduced soft messaging about the change before, it was never strictly enforced. Now, with the introduction of this additional fee, the streaming service hopes to grow its subscription base.

Interestingly, Netflix saw a significant increase in new sign-ups after implementing restrictions on password sharing in 2023. In fact, the service gained 5.9 million new users, which was nearly three times what analysts had predicted.

Warner Bros Discovery did not respond to inquiries from MassLive regarding this new policy. So, if you’re someone who has shared your HBO Max password in the past, it might be time to consider your options before this change takes effect.