Netflix expands password sharing crackdown to U.S.

Netflix Inc. expanded its crackdown on password sharing to the U.S. on Tuesday, alerting users that accounts cannot be shared for free outside households.

The market leader in streaming video has been attempting to find new revenue streams as it sees signs of market saturation, with initiatives including password borrowing restrictions and a new ad-supported option.

On Tuesday, Netflix announced that it was emailing consumers in 103 nations and territories, including the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil, about account sharing.

According to the emails, only one household should have a Netflix account. Paying clients can add a member away from their residences for an extra eight dollars a month in the U.S.

Additionally, users can transfer their profile so they can maintain their viewing history and recommendations.

Last year, Netflix announced that it would restrict account sharing and that it was experimenting with different methods in a few areas.

The company said that more than 100 million people had supplied their log-in credentials to friends and family outside their homes.

As of the end of March, Netflix’s paying customers totaled 232.5 million globally.