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Netflix Adds 6 Million New Users After Password Crackdown
In its latest quarterly report, the streaming service reported dramatic growth after preventing users sharing account details.
Streaming giant Netflix has reported substantial growth after a crackdown on users sharing their account details with people outside their households. The company added nearly 6 million new subscribers during the second quarter of 2023, representing a growth of 8%.
In a letter to shareholders, Netflix explained that its drive to stop password sharing hadn’t resulted in mass cancellations and that tightened restrictions were working. “The cancel reaction was low, and while we’re still in the early stages of monetization, we’re seeing healthy conversion of borrower households into full paying Netflix memberships as well as the uptake of our extra member feature,” the letter read.
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In addition to restricting account sharing, Netflix has begun offering “paid sharing”, allowing subscribers to add an “extra member” to their account for $8 a month — an option now available in over 100 countries.
Netflix has also confirmed that its $10 basic plan will be canceled in the United States and United Kingdom. At the same time, restricted password sharing will continue to roll out in countries such as India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Croatia.
News
New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE
The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.
A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.
The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.
For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.
The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.
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Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.
Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.
For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.
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