It's a year of big questions and changes for Netflix, but we could be in for a cool, crisp summer if the streaming giant refrains from expanding its password-sharing surcharge test.
This week, when asked about the possibility of expanding password sharing testing in the United States this summer, a Netflix spokesperson told TechRadar in an email exchange that "we are working to understand the usefulness of these password sharing tests." two features for members in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, before making changes anywhere else in the world.We have nothing more to share at this time.
Correct. There is no new information there, but there is also no indication that the process has progressed beyond the fairly restricted tests in Peru, Costa Rica and Chile.
On the other hand, those weird comments don't mean you're free and clear here in the US and elsewhere to extend your Netflix password to your friends, family, and that guy at work who keeps saying he asks.
Still, "working to understand" is an indication that Netflix's efforts to understand the impact of its new surcharge are far from over and that's, at least for the next several months (summer starts in the northern hemisphere on June 21). and ends on September 22). , you don't have to go after everyone who's already using your Netflix account credentials and tell them to "leave it."
The clock, however, is ticking. Netflix really has no choice but to expand this show. According to Netflix, 100 million households currently share their passwords outside of the home.
No news is good news
With Netflix's subscriber woes far from over (the company reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers and expects to lose as many as 2 million by the end of the year), account sharing surcharge is very likely to hit the US and other locations later this year. . That is, unless Netflix finds in its tests that such a small surcharge (equivalent to a few dollars in current test markets) further reduces the number of subscriptions and accelerates the overall decline in subscribers.
By the way, the other service changes Netflix is considering could also take a summer break. When TechRadar asked about the possibility of Netflix's ad-supported tier coming this summer, the Netflix representative told us, "It's still early days and we don't have a timeline to share."
Does that mean it probably won't come this summer?
This moment, or lack thereof, makes sense. It's hard to introduce a new, possibly much cheaper, Netflix option with commercial breaks when most people in the US are going back abroad, going on vacation, watching movies in theaters, and generally doing a little less Netflix streaming at home.
It might also be a good idea to line up for a new ad-supported service for the fall, when Netflix could have a new lineup of shows, movies, and the start of lots of new holiday fare.
Meanwhile, Netflix is hoping to feast on the positive buzz and viewership gains garnered by Stranger Things 4, which released on Friday. There are seven episodes to watch now, and then the streamer will bring the series back for a big two-part episode (which can be over 3 hours long) in July. All of this should keep current Netflix subscribers hooked for most of the summer.
Netflix can take big steps after this.