Streaming Service to Crack Down on Password Sharing, Implementing $8 Fee

It looks like sharing your HBO Max account is going to come with a cost! Starting in September, the streaming service is stepping up its game and cracking down on password sharing and multiple location logins. According to Fortune, Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD), the owner of HBO Max, will now require users to pay an extra $7.99 per month if they want to share their account with someone outside their household. This fee has actually been around for a while, but now the company is getting serious about enforcing it.

JB Perrette, WBD’s streaming chief, shared with Fortune that they have been conducting tests for months to distinguish between legitimate users and those who might be sharing passwords. With the testing phase complete, the company is ready to implement this new fee. It seems HBO Max is following in the footsteps of other streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, who have also made efforts to curb password sharing in recent years.

WBD announced in an earnings call earlier this year that they have a whopping 122 million users worldwide. HBO Max offers a wide range of programming options, from TV network shows like Discovery and CNN to hit HBO series. Monthly plans for HBO Max start at $9.99 and can go up to $20.99, but you might save a little if you opt for the annual subscription instead. Looks like the days of freely sharing streaming accounts might be numbered!