Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown - New Home Fee

life is suffering on 24/07/2022 - 16:18
Last edited 24/07/2022 - 16:19

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/07/netfl…

From the article

Starting August 22, customers who sign in outside their home "will see the option to add the extra home for an additional fee per month" or use the two-week grace period, Netflix said. Earlier today, the Netflix FAQ included a sentence that said after the two-week grace period, "the TV will be blocked unless you add the extra home,"

The extra member fee of about $2 to $3 per month was implemented in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, with Netflix saying it would evaluate the rollout before making changes in other countries.

Argentina is next.

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Comments

    • dmbminaret on 25/07/2022 - 17:43
      +2

      I'm happy to keep spending my 12€ per month for seedbox in Amsterdam with Plex, sonarr and radarr.

      • vinnychase on 25/07/2022 - 18:20
        +3

        17.67 AUD per month is a lot. for bootlegged copies

        • dmbminaret on 25/07/2022 - 18:58

          Haha bootlegged.

        • DingoBilly on 25/07/2022 - 20:21
          +6

          Yeah I never understood the benefit of this. Like you can download for free, or you can pay to watch a streaming service.

          Why would you pay if you're going to pirate is beyond me.

          • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 14:58
            +2

            @DingoBilly: I don't get it either. People will remove an item from a McD's burger to save several cents, then pay for shows easily found for free. Just install a torrent client, thepiratebay/1337x, and a few browser plugins to block adverts and pron popups. I don't get "boxes" either. Just buy a cable that plugs your computer into your TV or get a chromecast, start downloading shows. Some torrent clients allow you select "download first and last parts" and "download in sequential order" (like qbittorrent), which means you only have to download for a couple of minutes to start viewing, and it completes downloading faster than you can watch it. I forget what it's called but there's even an app you can install that allows you to control VLC media player on your computer using your phone as a remote.

            When I was checking the next episode date of a show on https://tvseriesfinale.com, I found if you tick a box and subscribe to notifications of that show, they notify you when a new season starts, but also when shows related to it get made. I haven't watched FTA TV for over two decades, I've never had a pay subscription to anything, I don't read newspapers, and browser plugins block most web ads. But every time I see someone mention a show on ozbargain I know what it is. (So I'm not missing out on anything. People have said to me they use a box as an index to learn about shows.)

            Plenty of stuff isn't worth paying for either. e.g. I watched the 4400 remake and it was AWFUL. They obviously filled acting positions according to "diversity quotas" rather than talent. Add to that the American left's obsessive woke agendas and it was painful to watch. No surprise it didn't get a second season. Anyway as long as they keep making making garbage like that they fully deserve to lose income.

            • Willy Beamish on 28/07/2022 - 18:24

              @[Deactivated]: What you said makes absolutely no sense.
              "People will remove an item from a McD's burger to save several cents, then pay for shows easily found for free"

              Yes, people will remove items on a burger they are paying for to save cents, they do not steal the burger because the price is not to their liking.

              • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2022 - 19:27

                @Willy Beamish: [Sigh] That tired debunked argument. The same movies are available on FTA TV, from the local public library, at other people's houses, from the free movie deals that come up here from time to time, from Amazon Prime membership FREE trials, etc. And a movie isn't a car, boat, or dog. But even if it were:

                1. If someone borrowed my dog, took it somewhere that clones animals, returned it to me, then gave 100 clones away FOR FREE… who lost out? I still have my dog, it hasn't been "stolen", and the new owners got a free dog they otherwise wouldn't have bought. For it to be "stealing" someone has to LOOSE SOMETHING and/or NO LONGER OWN THE ORIGINAL. The only person who "lost" anything was the guy who borrow my dog then paid for it to be cloned. He's like the guy who wastes his electricity and pays for an internet connection to upload movies (give away a dog).

                2. If I had to pay I wouldn't watch. and I only watch because I don't have to pay. So if I don't watch, they lose nothing. And if I do watch, they still lose nothing. In both cases they lost nothing. Since they lost nothing no "stealing" took place. And if I get a free Amazon Prime trial, again they lose nothing.

                And there's the silliness of these "stealing" arguments laid bare… There's ALWAYS somewhere, someway, sometime, to watch for free "legally" in their eyes… even though no money changed hands with any of them. But if you use one free way you're "stealing", and the other free way, you're not. The person who signs up for a free Amazon Prime trial, fully intending to watch dozens of movies, which they also didn't pay for, don't intended to buy anything on Amazon Prime during their trial, and cancels the trial before being charged for month #2… "Oh that's ok." Even though their intention was to take advantage, to cancel the trial before they even signed up, to watch movies for free - all exactly the same, lol.

                If I had to do that I would. But I don't - and once again, they'd still get nothing. Whether I watch a new show on a Prime trial or via a torrent, the show is the same, and the result is the same. So why bother wasting time with Prime, going to the library, checking the FTA TV guide… kid myself one method is "stealing" but another way (which is also free and has the same shows) isn't!?

                When all the other free methods of viewing are shut down, then it might be a valid argument. Until then it makes more sense to use the same method for all shows.

          • dmbminaret on 26/07/2022 - 19:02

            @DingoBilly: Why do I pay for it? A few reasons:

            I work away so I can stream there, at home, anywhere. Of course I could run a machine at home 24/7 but upload speed would be nowhere near as good as a dedicated ISP server slot.

            I can watch what I want, when I want. I can curate my own list from all the streaming services plus ones not available in Australia.

            I could use a VPN and torrent software but how I have it setup with the software platform included is a one click solution. I use trakt, but could use IMDb and simply add a movie or show to my list and when available in the quality I've specified, it is instantly on my Plex screen ready for viewing.

            I pay for this service because I see the value in it. Most pirates are not against paying for services, just against paying for overpriced services.

        • nephilim on 25/07/2022 - 20:29

          $50 for chinese xiaomi box with every streaming service videos in chinese apps, only neg is chinese subtitles

          • Sutra on 25/07/2022 - 21:51

            @nephilim: Do you have a tutorial/video link for this?

          • amrdeus on 26/07/2022 - 12:58

            @nephilim: Same question as Sutra. Any more info on how to do this? Where do you get the apps? What are they called?

      • core101 on 26/07/2022 - 17:30
        +3

        I find the movies that disappoint me the most, within the first minute, are the movies that show the Netflix logo. It is a warning, to expect cringe wokeness to be stomped down your throat.

      • Tyrx on 06/08/2022 - 17:53

        Are you streaming 4k from Amsterdam? The peering must be a bottleneck..

  • monky on 24/07/2022 - 18:55

    Wonder how this is going to affect people with dynamic ip addresses

    EDIT: Looks like it's a device ID type thing for smart TVs.

    • pegaxs on 24/07/2022 - 19:17
      +8

      Or what about people who watch at home and on their way to work on their phone and then later at night in bed on another TV or iPad… $15 a month for the content, another $38 for all the devices you use in and around your own house…

      All that will end up happening is an app that just spoofs information and everyone will have "helicopters"…

    • terrys on 25/07/2022 - 08:46
      +2

      thing for smart TVs.

      I like the way people imagine that the "smart" in the limited AIOs with the locked down non-upgradable computer built into the monitor is meant for their benefit…

      • monky on 26/07/2022 - 14:50

        Absolutely forced obsolescence!

      • Daz91 on 27/07/2022 - 10:48
        +1

        Feel free to continue using your 2002 Sony Trinitron or whatever then

  • JimmyF on 24/07/2022 - 19:33
    -1

    So now wondering if fetch TV boxes are classed as 'smart' tvs……

    • mapax on 24/07/2022 - 19:37

      I was wondering the same about Vodafone tv or firestick.

  • ddhar on 24/07/2022 - 21:35
    +10

    That may finally push me to end my subscription. Hard to find really good shows and there seem to be better contents on Prime Video now.

    • Trips on 24/07/2022 - 21:41
      +10

      I'm thinking the same. I find myself looking for content on Netflix for longer than I actually watch content on Netflix.

  • Gorodemon on 24/07/2022 - 21:47
    +7

    If try to hit us, Ozbargainers who reside in Turkiye, with this additional fees, I'm sure they'd lose a few of us as customers.

    Even though I'm currently paying $5 a month for the service, I hardly use it. Therefore, I won't hesitate to end my subscription as I have so many sources of entertainment (Disney+, Prime, Rapidgator, Usenet, Torrents, etc).

    PS: this is like Foxtel 20 years ago when they asked customers extra money if we wanted to watch different show on a 2nd screen. In their defence, it's fair enough because they had to issue a second decoder.

    I don't see it costing Netflix more money if I share my account with my family. It's all just money grab because Capitalism expects infinite business growth.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 15:07
      -5

      It's not about growth… it's about trying to make up for what they lost due to their own foolish pride/arrogance and fear. i.e. They started pandering to a loud obnoxious minority by allowing them to push their woke agendas, lost hundreds of thousands of customers who didn't want to pay to be brainwashed, but are now too frightened to reverse their stance completely… so they "have to" make up the loss without angering the woke minority (who's mum probably pays for, or steal their content for free, anyway).

  • hazzad on 24/07/2022 - 22:26
    +12

    So they are saying that I can't use the service I pay for in my holiday house also, unless I pay them more money? Think they need to lay off the drugs. I know things aren't great over there but this is a excellent way to alienate customers. Not to mention the fact that my sub has increased in price again by $3, which is the 2nd time in 2 years.

    • CocaKoala on 26/07/2022 - 13:21
      +3

      my sub has increased in price again by $3,

      True, that. My subscription also went up by 60 liras. For that money I could easily get a Turkish tea and a Turkish bread, come home in a Turkish uber and still have change left for a Turkish delight.

  • floorpie on 25/07/2022 - 07:47
    +15

    Currently sharing an Australian subscription with family. I will cancel and go back to pirating if they come after me with this nonsense

    • WT on 25/07/2022 - 08:08
      +1

      123movies has been good

      • CocaKoala on 26/07/2022 - 13:22
        +1

        YIFY ftw. Those were the days, but I won't hesitate to go back either. I'm not paying them so many liras for this nonsense.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 15:08

      Why wait? ;-D

  • JuliaH on 25/07/2022 - 10:25
    +3

    blacksmithnpc

    Watched "Stranger Things". Fast forwarded at least a third of it by the end. The worst of it appeared to be in the first few episodes; but it was very obviously padding ++. There is only so much teenage nausea-inducing dialogue that I can tolerate at one time. Definitely spoilt the whole thing for me.

    • [Deactivated] on 25/07/2022 - 16:54

      definitely an overrated show.

    • Pinchy on 26/07/2022 - 19:35
      +3

      Poor you. Many people love it.
      Tv shows in the past use to have to pad out 24+ episodes a year. They had much more filler lol

    • Windows7forever on 27/07/2022 - 12:24

      I couldn't finish season 1.cringe worthy and overrated.

  • katz on 25/07/2022 - 12:09

    Anyone have a guide/steps to take to move my family/account from Argentina (home sharing fee) to Turkey (no home sharing fee).

    Do I need to cancel my sub and re-sub when I get to Turkey?

    • life is suffering on 25/07/2022 - 13:23

      Argentina is not implemented yet so you have time till next year. My guess

      • Tyrx on 25/07/2022 - 22:51
        +1

        I have an Argentina account - netflix sent an email to all account holders stating the changes would go live on August the 22nd

  • jrvb42 on 25/07/2022 - 18:52
    +1

    Didn't they lose a bunch of users, and now they want to alienate the remaining users by these actions? Do they think the additional users will pay?

  • Drakesy on 25/07/2022 - 19:46
    +5

    Ngl
    Spending a lot of time scrolling and not much time watching netflix these days
    It's a lot of flops tbh

    Then again they're probably still playing catchup from covid

    Would happily delete my account if they did this

  • Aneurism on 25/07/2022 - 19:54
    +1

    What bothers me is
    "Number of screens you can watch on at the same time" .. The implication seems to be that they expect you to pay more because they want a single person to watch up to 4 screens at the same time..

    • Willy Beamish on 27/07/2022 - 18:42
      -1

      Not sure if serious…..

      Do you actually need this explained to you?

  • mousie on 25/07/2022 - 20:01
    +1

    So.. No Netflix and chill at the other persons place?

  • Herbse on 25/07/2022 - 20:31
    -7

    What scumbags. Trying to make people pay a few dollars for the service which costs billions to run.

    • Guybrush57 on 26/07/2022 - 03:18
      +1

      We already pay for the service but now they want to double charge us. They produce a lot of garbage so if that costs them billions to make then I am happy for you to foot the bill alone.

  • TEER3X on 25/07/2022 - 21:05
    +4

    Cancelled my accounts months ago after the price hike. Screw them. I'll download all that crap for free.

    • xdigger on 04/08/2022 - 13:09

      Any 4k content websites with no ads/viruses that can be cast onto TVs?

  • utsc on 25/07/2022 - 21:52
    +2

    Vote with your feet. Just move to another content provider

  • infinite on 25/07/2022 - 22:43
    +2

    How on earth are they possibly going to enforce a policy like this, when the majority of the world have ISP's who provide rolling IP's to all their customers? Depending on the time of day & which device/laptop/PC I'm using, My IP address shows me in NSW, VIC or SA.

    • Willy Beamish on 27/07/2022 - 18:41

      IP address isn't the only thing they use to identify a device.

  • kaleidoscope on 25/07/2022 - 22:44
    +2

    This is just great. I cancelled my account 2 years ago because of rising cost of their subscription with no worthy of content. I have been using friends account as 4th seat for couple of months to catch up on shows i have been watching in the past. This gives good enough reason to quit the flix for good 😋

  • Jhonka on 25/07/2022 - 22:53

    Weird. I've been using a Peruvian account and haven't seen any notifications about extra fees.

  • McFly on 25/07/2022 - 23:05
    +1

    So in my house there's about half a dozen each of laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, multiple TVs, Chromecast devices, Fetch boxes, 4G modems…
    I've lived overseas where 'home' was a different country every few months.
    Are they going to use Google's (apparently sentient) AI system to work that out???

    • vinnychase on 25/07/2022 - 23:26

      Yeah exactly in my opinion they’re better of either keeping it going the way it is or if this sharing is really a pain in their arse they can change their plans to reflect this like selling a 1 stream 4K plan or some bs like that.

    • banana365 on 26/07/2022 - 11:54
      +3

      Are they going to use Google's (apparently sentient) AI system to work that out???

      You're fired!

  • Keeegs on 26/07/2022 - 00:58
    +1

    My account is being shared with 2 extra households. I'm not planning to lose any sleep over this

  • pufffdragon on 26/07/2022 - 08:34
    +1

    Isn't Netflix already losing millions of subscribers? How is this helping their cause. Good luck.

    • vinnychase on 26/07/2022 - 12:27
      +1

      There's 2 things they could do when they start losing subscribers.
      Either sweeten the deal(providing more value e.g. games. more content etc) to attract more subscribers or increase their margin on existing subscribers. During their expansion they were focused on the former. Now them seem to be shuttering down the former and becoming more aggressive on the latter.

      • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 14:05
        +2

        There's 2 things they could do when they start losing subscribers.

        Three things. "3. Drive away even more subscribers."

    • SimAus007 on 26/07/2022 - 13:29
      +3

      They have lost 1 million subscribers, for the first time ever, but approximately 500,000 of those are because they shut down their service in Russia.

  • AEKaBeer on 26/07/2022 - 09:34
    +1

    I almost never use my sub and have kept it up for my brother's kids. This might be the reason to cancel it and set up an SD account for them.

  • huwcar on 26/07/2022 - 10:25

    So I can't log on to my Netflix account at work during lunch or something? Watching on phone?

    • T1 on 26/07/2022 - 10:50

      Phone is fine

  • banana365 on 26/07/2022 - 11:56

    It'll be interesting to see how it copes with all those FIFO workers watching Netflix somewhere in the back of beyond, along with several hundred others on the same IP address.

    • Willy Beamish on 28/07/2022 - 18:25
      -1

      Your understanding of networking and IP addressing is extremely low, please stop.

      • banana365 on 28/07/2022 - 19:40
        -1

        Really, my decades in IT have been a lie! I'd better stop selling entertainment systems to mining companies to go in their accommodation villages. Our whole company must be full of networking numpties. Or maybe it's just you.

      • banana365 on 28/07/2022 - 22:03

        Care to explain where you believe I've gone wrong?

  • dudeski on 26/07/2022 - 12:05

    If you're on your device and VPN into your home router, would that be a workaround, or Netflix registers your Home TV as the primary viewing device? If they start with ad-revenues that will be the end for me.

  • idonotknowwhy on 26/07/2022 - 12:56

    So the random Netflix account I've been using on the bluray player I found at hard-garbage last year is going to stop working?

    • vinnychase on 26/07/2022 - 12:59

      (profanity) me! 🤣. Nah looking at your luck. Their devices will probably stop working before yours do

      • idonotknowwhy on 29/07/2022 - 15:37

        Their devices will probably stop working before yours do

        Good point! I completely didn't think of that!
        I'm actually going to stop using it before then. Don't want to be an ass and get them cut off.
        Cheers

  • SimAus007 on 26/07/2022 - 13:27

    If they start doing this on Australian Netflix accounts, they won't be getting my $ as I can't justify it.
    I don't watch it that much Netflix nowadays, but sharing the account with family makes it a no-brainer, I can live without it.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 14:02
    +4

    This is great! Netflix goes woke, loses customers hand over fist, so thinks the solution is to punish those who stayed.

    LOL… thepiratebay and torrents rise again!

    • jaimex2 on 26/07/2022 - 15:07
      +2

      Yarr!

      To be fair I cancelled when woke phase 1 started.

      Removing Casa Blanca from their library. I'd never watch it, it cost them nothing to have but it was a message they would dictate what I watch.

      • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 15:28
        +3

        All these companies are stomach-churning hypocrites… The other day I saw some Star Wars poster by Disney I think, with a few characters on it, one a black guy, and they posted it online with some virtue signalling line of text, something about racism is never ok and we all have to do better. (Something like that.) Then I saw the Chinese version… same poster… line of text absent… and so was the black guy - deleted from the picture, LOL!

        Found it. He's not deleted, but so small I thought he was!

        https://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/08/asia/star-wars-china-raci…

        Poor guy must be getting really sick of China:

        https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-london-international-…

        • greatlamp on 26/07/2022 - 22:54
          +1

          Strong suspicion it goes well beyond the poster.

          Finn (black guy) was setup with a love interest with Poe (Chinese girl) in the first movie. It was never touched upon again.

          Disney changed the story of the Dr Strange movie to suit the CCPs tastes (Tibet completely erased from the storyline).

  • whatgift on 26/07/2022 - 14:25

    I think people are missing the detail here - they are not just using your location, but also the device. If you’re taking your phone or tablet around the world that won’t be a problem. It’s having a TV that is permanently outside your residence that would trigger this extra cost.

    Also, the justification for piracy is still as bull**** as it was 5 years ago - the content is there at a reasonable price and without commitment, there is no excuse.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/07/2022 - 15:34

      If you’re taking your phone or tablet around the world that won’t be a problem.

      Until you're watching on your phone while overseas, someone drops in to water your plants, and decides to turn the TV onto a different show while they wait for the downpour outside to stop so they can leave… oops.

      • greatlamp on 26/07/2022 - 22:58

        Phones don't count. They never have. Netflix can tell what device you are watching from.

    • Willy Beamish on 27/07/2022 - 20:16
      -1

      90% of the people crying didn't actually read the article and are just angry that they can't continue to break the ToS and scam money out of a company uncontested.

    • PVA on 28/07/2022 - 20:31

      What about multiple homes?

      • whatgift on 28/07/2022 - 21:26

        I think that will be subject to the fee, assuming you're using different devices at each home.

        • PVA on 30/07/2022 - 00:06

          It shouldn’t be. That’s one reason we chose Netflix streaming. They are both our residences.

          Yeah, it’s different devices, we don’t carry 55inch TV between homes 😀

  • Kamsi on 26/07/2022 - 14:31
    +1

    If this is happening in Australia, I'll say adios Netflix. Beside I only watch Netflix when I'm bored.

    • moo on 27/07/2022 - 00:31

      Buh-bye!

  • monky on 26/07/2022 - 15:02

    Not great for mainstream movie-goers, but I ditched my Netflix sub for MUBI annual at (around $6-7 a month) two or three years ago and haven't looked back

  • muzzamo on 26/07/2022 - 15:04
    +1

    To me the problem isn't netflix doing this. My "customers" (extended family who i share accounts with) will pony up for their additional share of the bill.

    The problem is when everyone else follows if it succeeds - If prime, Stan, Disney and paramount all follow things are going to add up very quickly.

  • jaimex2 on 26/07/2022 - 15:04

    Haha, this isn't going to end how they think it is at all.

    They're going to lose a lot more customers while their new system gets circumvented by simply turning IPv6 off on routers.

  • RefusdClassification on 26/07/2022 - 15:05
    +1

    I don't understand why people are upset at having to pay an extra $3 per month. Everyone on OzBargain seems to be earning $400,000 annually. $36 per year is 10 minutes work. Everyone is constantly purchasing $100+ Lego kits (they are sold out within 8 hours of a deal being posted); don't complain about a small increase in streaming prices.

    • jaimex2 on 26/07/2022 - 15:11

      What started at $10 a month flat for a pretty good library with UHD is now $17/m for basically a crap version of SBS on demand.

      • whatgift on 26/07/2022 - 16:25

        All the services are going to follow the same pattern eventually - start off cheap to get a good subscriber base, they slowly up the price.

  • Korban Dallas on 26/07/2022 - 20:52
    +2

    Netflix activity promoted password sharing. Even after mass exodus of subscribers they want to lose more?

    • Kentrolla on 27/07/2022 - 09:32

      Exactly. It's not hard for people to hit the cancel button.

  • harshbdmmaster718 on 26/07/2022 - 21:27

    Ok guys I read online that Netflix is Australia's #1 subscribed streaming service, with Prime Video quickly catching up. Numbers don't lie I guess I was wrong thinking Netflix was unpopular.
    It is surprising that Netflix has so much controversy yet continues to be the most popular streaming service, I have heard there have been more than a few "price changes".
    I guess they are still on top so that's how come they do whatever they want.

    Maybe there are a tonne of people who signed up for the free trial and have been paying for Netflix without using it. You might think it's unlikely but I reckon they hook heaps of people with free trials.

    • greatlamp on 26/07/2022 - 23:00
      +3

      Like most controversy, people on Twitter vastly overestimate how important Twitter is to everyone else.

  • hazzad on 26/07/2022 - 21:49

    Read this today:

    https://nerdist.com/article/netflix-stopping-password-sharin…

    States the following :

    "On a Basic plan, users can add only one extra home. On a Standard plan, Netflix will allow two extra homes. And on Premium, users can add three additional homes."

    So appears as a Premium Sub, you get 4 homes if i read right. If this is the case, then it may not be as bad as i think….maybe…

    • PVA on 27/07/2022 - 19:20

      your home plas 3 extra homes at an additional $3 per month each

      • hazzad on 27/07/2022 - 22:35

        Where does it say that?

  • Willy Beamish on 26/07/2022 - 22:22
    -4

    You really shouldn't be sharing accounts in the first place, if you can't afford it then go without it? You're not entitled to break their ToS just because you can't afford it.

    Prime Video is better anyway (for the price atleast)

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