Netflix

Want to kick your ex off your Netflix account without having to change your password? A new Netflix feature will make that possible. Today, Netflix is launching “Manage Access and Devices,” which allows account owners to remotely log out of devices they don’t recognize or no longer want signed in. The addition could help Netflix push more freeloaders to become subscribers as they’re kicked off the service, where they may have been logging in without the account holder’s knowledge. The new feature follows other recent launches also aimed at limiting account-sharing, like Profile Transfer, which arrived amid a broader crackdown as Netflix faced subscriber losses. To remove devices from an account, Netflix subscribers can go to their “Account Settings” and find the “Manage Access and Devices” option which displays the users’ most recent devices, as well as the type of device (Roku Smart TV, Android phone, etc.), the IP address, and the exact time and date when the device last access the subscriber’s Netflix account. After a subscriber selects “Sign Out” on an unfamiliar device, Netflix recommends a password change for extra security, but this is not required. Going forward, account owners will receive new login notifications via email. The feature is available, starting today, to all members worldwide on the web, iOS devices, and Android devices, Netflix says. Being able to manage who accesses a Netflix account will be especially helpful for those subscribed to Netflix’s cheaper plans, “Basic” and “Basic with ads,” which only allow one supported device at a time. (Standard members can simultaneously watch on two supported devices, and premium members can stream on four supported devices, for comparison.) Netflix has been cracking down on password sharing in recent months. During its earnings call with investors last month, Netflix detailed how it would monetize password sharing by launching an “extra members” feature in early 2023. This feature charges account holders an extra fee for sharing outside their household, and was previously tested in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. The “Profile Transfer” feature encourages those sharing another subscriber’s account to move to an account of their own while keeping their data intact, including custom recommendations, viewing history, and their watch list. “With the busy holiday season just around the corner, many of our members will be on the move and watching Netflix wherever they are traveling to see family and friends. Logging in to your account while at a hotel or even your friend’s house is easy and intuitive, but lots of people then forget to log out,” wrote Charles Wartemberg, Netflix’s Product Manager for Product Innovation, on the company’s blog.

Things are looking up for Netflix this quarter. The streamer added 2.41 million subscribers, bringing the total to 223.09 million. Netflix expected a net gain of 1 million subs in the third quarter. The streaming giant also slightly beat analysts’ expectations, earning $7.93 in revenue. Analysts predicted $7.85 billion. Netflix experienced two very grim quarters in recent months, losing a total of 1.2 million global subscribers. A significant number of layoffs have also occurred, including the more recent downsizing of its animation department. However, with the addition of its new ad-supported tier coming to the platform in November, the company has potentially opened itself up to new customers looking for a cheaper way to stream. The streaming giant revealed last week that the Basic with Ads plan would cost $6.99 per month and include four to five minutes of advertisements an hour for TV shows and movies. The launch will occur one month before rival Disney+’s ad-supported tier, which will cost $7.99 per month. Netflix has partnered with Microsoft, Nielsen, DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to help with its ad plan. The company also signed up with BARB to measure Netflix’s streaming numbers in the U.K. More to come…

Netflix announced today that it has launched “Profile Transfer,” a feature that lets a member on an existing account switch to a brand-new account without rebuilding their profile. This prevents their personal data from being erased like customized recommendations, viewing history, list of favorite shows/movies, and other settings that could be annoying to lose and start over from scratch. As the streamer cracks down on account sharing, Netflix likely launched the new feature to encourage freeloaders to pay for their own accounts. The feature is rolling out today, and subscribers worldwide will be notified via email. Once available, users can go to their profile icon on the Netflix homepage and find the “Transfer Profile” option. The “Profile Transfer” option can also be turned off in account settings. “People move. Families grow. Relationships end. But throughout these life changes, your Netflix experience should stay the same,” Timi Kosztin, Product Manager, Product Innovation, Netflix, wrote in today’s blog. “No matter what’s going on, let your Netflix profile be a constant in a life full of changes so you can sit back, relax and continue watching right from where you left off.” The streamer announced it would test password-sharing features after experiencing a significant drop in subscribers. In Netflix’s Q1 2022 earnings report, the streamer reported that about 100 million households have password freeloaders. In March, Netflix launched an “extra members” feature in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru, making subscribers pay an extra fee for additional people mooching off their accounts. In July, Netflix began testing an “add a home” feature in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Today’s announcement comes as the streaming giant suffers from a loss of nearly one million subscribers and looks for ways to earn more revenue. Last week, Netflix launched its cheaper ad-supported tier.