Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      How South Africa’s banks became bakgat

      30 November 2023

      Putin’s daughter pursues digital plan in push to embrace Africa

      30 November 2023

      MTN slashes prepaid data prices: 200GB for R399

      30 November 2023

      Spar confident worst of ERP disaster now behind it

      30 November 2023

      Icasa takes aim at ‘illegal’ Starlink sales in South Africa

      29 November 2023
    • World

      ‘Go f… yourself’: Musk lashes out at fleeing advertisers

      30 November 2023

      Microsoft to take non-voting position on OpenAI board

      30 November 2023

      Hackers stole customer support data in Okta breach

      29 November 2023

      Orange withdraws from process to buy into Ethio Telecom

      28 November 2023

      Musk’s X hit by advertiser exodus

      27 November 2023
    • In-depth

      Africa has a feature phone problem

      23 November 2023

      Is your ISP monitoring your online activity?

      10 November 2023

      The real Big Brother Africa

      2 November 2023

      Compared: Starlink prices around the world – including Africa

      30 October 2023

      Africa is booming

      30 October 2023
    • TCS

      TCS+ | OneTrust’s Joseph Byrne: privacy risk management done right

      29 November 2023

      TCS+ | Ricoh – safe and secure role in today’s digital ecosystems

      27 November 2023

      TCS+ | NEC XON on going toe to toe with cybercriminals

      22 November 2023

      TCS | How ShotSpotter is fighting gun crime in Cape Town

      13 November 2023

      TCS+ | SOC-as-a-service: CYBER1 SOC and the future of cybersecurity

      13 November 2023
    • Opinion

      Could Cape Town become Africa’s Silicon Valley?

      14 November 2023

      Chris Kruger: What I learnt in my decades in IT leadership

      6 November 2023

      Ransomware attacks: how South African companies should respond

      6 November 2023

      Fibre providers urged to go ‘nano’ to cut costs

      31 October 2023

      Big banks, take note: PayShap should be free

      20 October 2023
    • Company Hubs
      • 4IRI
      • Africa Data Centres
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Systems Integration
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • CallMiner
      • CoCre8
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • E4
      • Entelect
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • iKhokha
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • LSD Open
      • Maxtec
      • MiRO
      • NEC XON
      • Next DLP
      • Paratus
      • Ricoh
      • Skybox Security
      • SkyWire
      • Velocity Group
      • Videri Digital
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud computing
      • Consumer electronics
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • E-commerce
      • Education and skills
      • Energy
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Metaverse and gaming
      • Motoring and transport
      • Open-source software
      • Public sector
      • Science
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Sections » Broadcasting and Media » Netflix password-sharing crackdown now in SA

    Netflix password-sharing crackdown now in SA

    Netflix is expanding its crackdown on password sharing to South Africa.
    By Nkosinathi Ndlovu20 July 2023
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email

    Netflix is expanding its crackdown on password sharing to South Africa after it said on Wednesday that the controversial move is having a positive effect on revenues and subscription numbers in markets where it’s already happened.

    The US-based streaming entertainment giant has launched paid-for plans specifically for customers who want to share their login credentials with family or friends. The sharing of passwords has become an industry-wide problem, with MultiChoice Group’s DStv recently clamping down on the practice, a move the company has also claimed drove up paying subscriptions.

    Netflix had already introduced its paid-for sharing options in about 100 countries, representing some 80% of its revenue base. South Africa was not among them, but the company has now included the country in its crackdown.

    South African users have started receiving e-mails from Netflix regarding the sharing of their accounts

    “Revenue in each region [where password sharing has been restricted] is now higher than pre-launch, with sign-ups already exceeding cancellations,” Netflix said in a letter to shareholders alongside its financial report for the second quarter, published on Wednesday.

    South African users have started receiving e-mails from Netflix regarding the sharing of their accounts. The e-mail, which TechCentral has seen, advises accountholders to set up a “household” profile to help Netflix identify the profiles and devices it should associate with their account.

    Read: Surprise, surprise: Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown is working

    Household profiles can only be set from an internet-connected TV. If a user does not set up their household profile, Netflix will auto-create one based on “IP address, device IDs and account activity”. Any subscriber using an account whose household they are not a part of can have their profile transferred to a new account, which they can then pay for.

    Four plans

    There are currently four pricing plans available in South Africa. The table below shows the various pricing options and the associated features.

    Netflix plans Features
    Mobile
    • Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows and mobile games
    • Watch on one phone or tablet at a time
    • Download on one phone or tablet at a time
    Basic
    • Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows and mobile games
    • Watch on one supported device at a time
    • Watch in HD
    • Download on one supported device at a time
    Standard
    • Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows and mobile games
    • Watch on two supported devices at a time
    • Watch in full HD
    • Download on two supported devices at a time
    Premium
    • Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows and mobile games
    • Watch on four supported devices at a time
    • Watch in ultra HD
    • Download on six supported devices at a time
    • Netflix spatial audio

    It emerged earlier this week that Netflix is phasing out the cheapest ad-free plans in the US and UK, forcing new and returning subscribers either to move up to a more expensive ad-free plan or down to a cheaper ad-supported tier. Current subscriptions are not affected by the changes.

    All plans in South Africa are ad-free, but recent changes to US and UK pricing structures suggest ad-supported tiers may be in the pipeline locally as well. Being cheaper than the equivalent ad-free offerings, they boost revenue by attracting new sign-ups while adding a second revenue stream for Netflix, which is “working hard to scale the business”.

    A spokesman for Netflix in South Africa did not respond to questions about the new ad-supported tiers, and whether these will be introduced locally, too.  – © 2023 NewsCentral Media

    Get TechCentral’s daily newsletter

    DStv MultiChoice Netflix
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email
    Previous ArticleMost-watched Netflix series and movies of all time
    Next Article Vodacom mourns death of ‘Yebo Gogo’ man, Kole Omotoso 

    Related Posts

    5G home broadband a big opportunity for African operators

    30 November 2023

    How South Africa’s banks became bakgat

    30 November 2023

    DCA, Huawei and WBBA host Africa Fibre Forum 2023

    30 November 2023
    Promoted

    5G home broadband a big opportunity for African operators

    30 November 2023

    DCA, Huawei and WBBA host Africa Fibre Forum 2023

    30 November 2023

    Accelerate innovation with platform engineering

    30 November 2023
    Opinion

    Could Cape Town become Africa’s Silicon Valley?

    14 November 2023

    Chris Kruger: What I learnt in my decades in IT leadership

    6 November 2023

    Ransomware attacks: how South African companies should respond

    6 November 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2023 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.