The Desk appreciates the support of readers who purchase products or services through links on our website. Learn more...

Max moves forward with password-sharing crackdown

The Warner Bros Discovery-owned streaming service is now offering its customers a way to add an "extra member" ahead of a broader crackdown on password-sharing expected this summer.

Photo of author
By:
»

mkeys@thedesk.net

Share:
HBO linear channels are available within the Max app on connected TV devices. (Courtesy image)
HBO linear channels are available within the Max app on connected TV devices. (Courtesy image)

Warner Bros Discovery has launched a new feature on its streaming service Max that allows customers to give access to another individual who lives beyond their immediate household.

The feature, called “Extra Member Add-On,” costs $8 per month on top of the usual monthly cost of Max, which ranges from $10 per month with ads to $21 per month for an ultra-premium tier with 4K streaming and other features.

The launch of Extra Member Add-On comes ahead of a broader crackdown on password-sharing between paying customers and freeloaders who live outside a subscriber’s immediate household. Similar efforts have been made by other services like Netflix and Disney Plus over the past few years. Last year, WBD executives warned of a crackdown on freeloaders using their service without payment that is set to begin in the summer.

WBD will take a measured approach to its password-sharing crackdown by educating customers about their agreed-upon terms of use, which limits the use of Max to members who live at the same address, as well as the ability to add additional members to their plan for a separate fee.

Former freeloaders who are given the opportunity to continue using a customer’s account through the Extra Member Add-On perk will be allowed to transfer their profile to a new account. The same goes for legitimate Max streamers who move from a paying subscriber’s household at some point in the future.

“Extra Member Add-On and Profile Transfer are two key Max advancements, designed to help viewers with a new way to enjoy our best-in-class content at an exceptional value, and offer subscribers greater flexibility in managing their accounts,” J. B. Perrette, the CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at WBD, said in a statement. “These updates provide a simple way for subscribers to add-on a new member to their account, or for existing subscribers who have users outside of their household to smoothly, and in an uninterrupted fashion, transition their profile so that the extra member can continue to access Max.”

Never miss a story

Get free breaking news alerts and twice-weekly digests delivered to your inbox.

We do not share your e-mail address with third parties; you can unsubscribe at any time.

Photo of author

About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is the award-winning founder and editor of TheDesk.net, an authoritative voice on broadcast and streaming TV, media and tech. With over ten years of experience, he's a recognized expert in broadcast, streaming, and digital media, with work featured in publications such as StreamTV Insider and Digital Content Next, and past roles at Thomson Reuters and Disney-ABC Television Group.
TheDesk.net is free to read — please help keep it that way.

We rely on advertising revenue to support our original journalism and analysis.
Please disable your ad-blocking technology to continue enjoying our content.Learn how to disable your ad blocker on:
Chrome | Firefox | Safari | Microsoft Edge | Opera | AdBlock plugin

Alternatively, add us as a preferred source on Google to unlock access to this website.

If you think this is an error, please contact us.