Disney+ has plan to combat piracy

The announcement of Disney’s all-new streaming service Disney+ has taken the internet by storm, especially when the seemingly all-too reasonable monthly subscription costs were announced. Fans of the new service (set to debut November 12) may be dismayed to learn that the Walt Disney Company is considering ways to restrict password sharing for Disney+.

An official Disney press release details that the company’s contract with Charter Communications is at work to protect the new service against common streaming problems like piracy and password sharing. While limited details have been released as of yet to outline how exactly the two companies will work to prevent these issues, we do know that password sharing will likely be more difficult on Disney+ than it has been on other platforms like Netflix.

“This agreement will allow Spectrum to continue delivering to its customers popular Disney content, makes possible future distribution by Spectrum of Disney streaming services,” says Tom Montemagno, EVP, Programming Acquisition for Charter, “and [it] will begin an important collaborative effort to address the significant issue of piracy mitigation.”

Streaming services have been suffering profit losses and data breaches due to password sharing (and stealing) since the early days of these programs, and news stories of Netflix accounts being accessed by everyone from ex-partners to data thieves overseas have become all too common for Disney’s comfort. A startling fact for consumers to consider on the subject is that there is an entire black market based around streaming password sharing where people can purchase stolen account information.

Additionally, studies show that approximately 14% of Netflix subscribers share their login information with family and friends, a statistic that depending on the logistics of “family and friends” has the potential to cost Netflix millions of dollars each year.

The benefit to password sharing of course though is that families can share accounts, and using a partner or family member’s account (in your household) can be an ideal way to stream when you are traveling or temporarily living in another city.

Synamedia, a company that has developed “security software that combats the rapid rise in account sharing between friends and families, turning it instead into a new revenue-generating opportunity for operators” runs with both Disney and Charter Communications as clients, and will likely play a pivotal role in helping Disney+ combat this issue.

Disney+ is set to include a number of Disney favorites, along with programs contracted under Charter Communications (which includes TV channels now owned by Disney like National Geographic, ABC, Freeform, FX, and the Disney Channel). Following its fall debut, the streaming service will also feature select Marvel movies, Disney series, new documentaries, and much more.

Where do you stand on the company’s stand on password sharing? Let us know in the comments!

Source: whatsondisneyplus.com