The time of sharing accounts without restrictions begins to be left behind. Netflix was the first big platform to launch an open offensive against the shared use of accounts, and Disney+ soon followed its example. Now it is Max, the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service, who adds to this trend with a measure that begins applying in the United States: the official activation of the “additional member” complement.
Although the news may surprise some users, the truth is that the maneuver was announced for months. At the end of last year, JB Perrette, president and CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, made it clear that it was just a matter of time. And that moment has arrived. The company has begun to deploy its own strategy to limit shared accounts, in line with an industry that seeks to increase income by adjusting access to its services.
A specific function to add external users. The new system is based on a complement that allows the owner of a main account to invite a friend or relative who does not live at his usual home. This user, considered an “additional member”, can access the service through a linked account, but with own credentials and their own profile. For practical purposes, it is a secondary account within the original plan, although with certain limitations.
For example, it is only allowed to add an additional member on behalf of and the use is restricted to a simultaneous device. However, this new user can enjoy all the benefits included in the plan hired by the Holder: Image quality, available content, among others.
An added cost that already begins to add. The complement Price is $ 7.99 per month, which add directly to the main plan. For example, for those who are signed to the standard plan (which costs $ 16.99 per month in the United States) the total amounts to almost $ 25 per month. This places Max in a strip similar to that of other services that have already taken similar measures, such as Netflix, and is a new step towards more rigid models in terms of number and type of users on behalf of users.
How it is activated and what changes in account. Users who want to activate the additional member complement can do so from the configuration of their subscription, both on the web and in the mobile app. Once the extra, the account holder can directly invite the new user and manage its access from the corresponding control panel. Integration is intended for the process to be simple and without friction.
Unlike creating a new account from scratch, the additional member becomes part of the original subscription, although with its own login. You may not change the hired plan or access administrative functions, but use the service as if it had your own account.
Profile transfer: a Netflix inherited function. Max has also incorporated another function that many users will already recognize: profile transfer. This option allows a user who was already sharing an account (and now becomes an additional member) can keep his full profile. That includes your visualization history, your personalized recommendations and all stored settings.
Waiting for Europe. For now, this first step to limit shared accounts in Max is being applied only in the United States. At the time of publishing this article there is no official information about its deployment in other markets, including Spain. We will have to wait to know when this measure will be extended. Now the message is clear. “Your Max account is for you and the people who live with you,” can be read on the help page dedicated to additional members.
Images | Boliviaintelligente | Max
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