After Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar Aims To Limit Password Sharing With Login Restrictions

Walt Disney's streaming service Disney+ Hotstar has decided to launch a crackdown on password sharing in the country.

Days after streaming giant Netflix ended password sharing in India, Walt Disney's streaming service Disney+ Hotstar has decided to launch a crackdown on password sharing in the country. According to news agency Reuters, Disney+ Hotstar is intending to limit password sharing and therefore, it would allow only four devices to have access to a premium subscription account. The report added, citing two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, this is the streaming company's attempt to check password sharing in India. 

Disney Hotstar's plan comes just as streaming rival Netflix in May started telling subscribers in more than 100 nations they will need to pay more to share the service with people outside their households. Disney+ Hotstar streaming service would allow 10 devices to access premium subscriptions but its website mentions that "four devices can be logged in".

OTT players Netflix, Disney, Amazon and JioCinema have become immensely popular in India, which is set to grow into a $7 billion market for the sector by 2027, according to Media Partners Asia. Industry data says Hotstar is the market leader in terms of users with approximately 50 million, the Reuters report added.

Streaming giant has recently taken a significant step in India by implementing a policy to end password sharing, thus, limiting account access only to members of a "Household". This is part of a broader global crackdown on password sharing beyond immediate family members, intended at boosting revenue following a challenging period last year. In May, Netflix announced its determination to curb this practice, and the results have been encouraging.

According to a statement from Netflix, all members living in the same household could continue to enjoy access to the platform across various devices, including at home, while travelling, or during vacations. Additionally, they introduced new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices to enhance the user experience.