6 Comments
User's avatar
Igor Ranc's avatar

Wasn't Netflix actively encouraging the sharing? With that Who is watching screen? I think that was part of the plan: suck the oxygen from the competition. Because you can only stream as much per day.

Thanks for your writeup, liked it.

Expand full comment
Gregg's avatar

IMO If Netflix really knew how many people were password sharing then they would be able to clamp down on it.

Besides Netflix has subscription plans that include 1, 2, or 4 streams. I think the real problem Netflix has is people just don't watch it that much and keep it because it's cheap. That's why people are willing to share passwords.

Companies like WBD and DIS have much more extensive catalogs including huge franchises (DC, Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc) which are easier to build upon and generate a ton of revenue in perpetuity. Unless Netflix can do that (which is even harder to do now with the movie theater business suffering) I don't see them having any real advantage. It's also super easy to cancel and resubscribe to these services as needed.

Expand full comment
INTJ Architect's avatar

Paying to watch youtube? Craziness!! Get a free adblocker!

Expand full comment
MikeFromNZ's avatar

I know I'm totally out of touch with mainstream mores; you don't think that it's unethical to share passwords?

Expand full comment
mendo's avatar

Do you want to say that WBD is to cheap compared to NFLX or other way around?

Expand full comment
Levi Ramsey's avatar

Note that they're not cracking down on password sharing (e.g. share your password and we'll cancel the account) but trying to monetize it by getting sharers onto higher cost plans.

I've been saying for a couple of years that NFLX doesn't mind password sharing because sharing the password creates a pretty substantial social cost to churning (by extension, a higher subscription price is more tolerable).

Expand full comment