HBO Max Set to Intensify Password Sharing Restrictions with a More Assertive Approach, Causing Potential Annoyance for Subscribers
HBO Max has announced plans to intensify its efforts against password sharing, following in the footsteps of streaming giants like Netflix and Disney. Starting from September 2025, the service will require users who share their passwords outside their household to pay a monthly fee for each additional viewer.
The initial phase of this crackdown will involve more fixed, non-cancelable messages encouraging users to add paying members by the end of August 2025. Each added viewer will receive a separate account, password, and profile, but only one additional member can be added per account.
This move is part of a broader industry trend, as streaming services grapple with the estimated $25 billion annual loss due to password sharing. Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO Max, has been testing measures for months to identify legitimate users and curb freeloading accounts.
The additional fee for each viewer will be $7.99 per month, a significant charge considering HBO Max's pricing tiers: $9.99/month for the ad-supported tier, $16.99/month for the standard no-ads plan, and $20.99/month for the premium 4K plan.
The impacts of this crackdown are expected to be seen in 2026. Potential benefits include increased revenue, reduction in password sharing, possible subscriber growth, and a potential reduction in consumer annoyance associated with password sharing. However, the change may also lead to frustration due to more persistent enforcement and messaging.
It's worth noting that HBO Max does not offer a family subscription tier, which has been a point of contention among subscribers. The service is home to a wealth of original content, including "The Last of Us," "The White Lotus," "Euphoria," and "Peacemaker."
In related news, HBO Max is pulling Cartoon Network content from its platform, a move that some users have connected to the password sharing crackdown announcement. Users in the US can still find a lot of Cartoon Network content on Hulu, while those in Australia can find the network's shows on Stan.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) added 3.4 million streaming subscribers to its platforms over the last quarter. The company's strategy is to strategically light up big tent pole titles like Batman, Superman, and Harry Potter with two or three of these titles a year. WBD also has smaller tent pole titles like The Fugitive, Goonies, Gremlins, and Practical Magic that are known worldwide.
In addition, WBD's CEO, David M. Zaslav, mentioned a hefty theatrical slate heading towards HBO Max over the next few years, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. The company also has a script in progress for a new Lord of the Rings series with Peter Jackson.
As the language around the password sharing crackdown on HBO Max becomes more aggressive in 2025, it remains to be seen how subscribers will respond to these changes. However, one thing is certain: HBO Max is committed to closing existing loopholes and driving profits in the streaming industry.
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Gaming enthusiasts using HBO Max for entertainment might find the social-media buzz about the service's password sharing crackdown intriguing, as it involves the latest technology to address the issue. Starting from September 2025, this technological shift could potentially impact the pricing of popular shows like "The Last of Us" or "Euphoria," as the additional fee for each viewer might encourage users to opt for specific plan tiers.
