HBO Max’s password-sharing crackdown is about to get worse
Summary
HBO Max plans to intensify its crackdown on password sharing starting in 2026, as revealed by Warner Bros. Discovery during an earnings call. The company will also cease reporting HBO Max subscriber numbers to boost its subscriber count.
Key Insights
What is an 'HBO Max household' and how does it relate to password sharing?
An HBO Max household is a collection of devices connected to the same home network that can stream using one account. Sharing credentials with people outside this household, such as family at a different location, violates policy and may limit access; they must create their own accounts.
Why is Warner Bros. Discovery stopping the reporting of HBO Max subscriber numbers?
Warner Bros. Discovery plans to cease reporting HBO Max subscriber numbers, following Netflix's lead from Q1 2025, to focus on overall growth while expecting to reach 150 million subscribers by year-end despite the change.
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