In a move that was expected but still noteworthy, Peacock has started notifying its subscribers that the days of unrestricted password sharing are numbered.
Users of the streaming service have begun receiving emails about upcoming changes to its terms of service, and one of the key changes is a direct hit on account sharing. The new terms state that, “unless permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household,” as reported by The Streamable.
The updated agreement also clarifies that Peacock is monitoring account usage, and any violation of these terms could result in limited access, suspension, or termination of the service.
This change mirrors a similar move by Disney last year when it updated its terms of service, paving the way for a crackdown on password sharing. Disney+ followed by introducing charges for those who wish to share accounts across households, a move that was eventually adopted by Hulu and ESPN+.
The new Peacock terms of service are set to take effect on January 5, and while the streamer hasn’t yet outlined exactly how it will handle account sharers, it is likely to follow in the footsteps of Disney+ and Netflix, which charge additional fees for extra account members.
For example, Disney+ charges $6.99 a month for “with-ads” users to add extra members, while Premium users pay $9.99. Netflix, on the other hand, charges $7.99 per month for extra users on any tier.
Max has already hinted at a similar approach, with an announcement of “gentle messaging” to subscribers suspected of sharing accounts and plans to roll out an option for adding extra members.
