Get All Access for $5/mo

Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Disney+ Is Banning Password Sharing Starting in June Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted that this was coming in an earnings call last summer.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Photo by Valerie MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP | Getty Images
Disney CEO Bob Iger attends the Oscar Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on February 12, 2024.

In an interview with CNBC last week, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that a Disney+ password-sharing crackdown will begin in June in the U.S. and in September in other countries.

Meanwhile, after streaming rival Netflix began its enforcement of password-sharing restrictions last spring, there was a jump in signups, CNN reported, and 100,000 new accounts signed up in the first two days, per data from Antenna.

"Netflix is the gold standard in streaming," Iger said in the CNBC interview. "They've done a phenomenal job and a lot of different directions. I actually have very, very high regard for what they've accomplished. If we can only accomplish what they've accomplished, that would be great."

Original story from Feb. 1 below:

It's the end of an era for Disney+ and Hulu password moochers, as Disney has announced it is going to begin cracking down on password-sharing among subscribers.

On Wednesday, Disney issued a letter to Hulu subscribers stating that it would begin "adding limitations" on "sharing your account outside of your household" starting March 14.

The company also quietly updated its Subscriber Agreement on January 25 to include information about account sharing.

Related: Disney Combining Hulu, Disney+ Streaming Platforms

"Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household," the new policy states. "'Household' means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein."

If subscribers are found in violation of the rule, Hulu "may limit or terminate access" to the account.

Disney+ and ESPN+ have also updated their Subscriber Agreements to say the same, but there is no date on record of when the document was updated. Disney+ began banning users from password sharing outside of the same household in Canada last October.

Related: Disney+ Is Beginning to Crack Down on Password Sharing — in Canada

Disney took operational control and a majority stake in Hulu in 2019 when it acquired 21 Century Fox's assets and began merging Hulu and Disney+ content in May 2023.

Disney gained full control of the streaming service in November 2023 when it bought out Comcast's remaining 33% stake for an estimated $8.6 billion.

Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted that changes may come to Disney's streaming service platforms during a Q3 2023 earnings call in August 2023 when the company announced price hikes for certain tiers of Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions.

"In calendar '24, we're going to get at this issue," Iger said regarding subscribers and password sharing at the time. "We certainly have established this as a real priority. We actually think that there's an opportunity here to help us grow our business."

Streaming rival Netflix infamously barred password sharing outside of the same household in March 2023, much to the dismay of loyal subscribers.

The Walt Disney Co. was down just over 11.3% in a one-year period as of Thursday afternoon.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Business News

Looking for a Remote Job? Here Are the Most In-Demand Skills to Have on Your Resume, According to Employers.

Employers are looking for interpersonal skills like teamwork as well as specific coding skills.