Observed Signal · Sep 28, 2023 · Policy Update · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Disney Plus Starts Password Sharing Crackdown in Canada
Disney Plus is beginning to enforce restrictions on password sharing in Canada. Starting November 1, the streaming service will limit users from sharing their account credentials outside of their household. The change was announced in an email to Canadian subscribers, and Disney's help center now states that sharing an account outside the household is prohibited. The company will analyze account activity and may restrict or terminate accounts for non-compliance. The move follows Netflix's earlier and surprisingly successful crackdown on password sharing, which began in May 2023. Disney CEO Bob Iger had previously acknowledged that the company was exploring ways to address shared accounts. The new policy is expected to eventually roll out to other markets worldwide.
A major streaming platform is enforcing password-sharing restrictions following Netflix's successful move, impacting streaming subscription economics and potentially influencing advertising-supported streaming tiers.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Disney Plus will restrict password sharing in Canada starting November 1, 2023.
- The policy was announced via email to Canadian subscribers.
- Disney's help center now states that sharing accounts outside a household is prohibited.
- Disney will analyze account activity and may restrict or terminate non-compliant accounts.
- The move follows Netflix's password-sharing crackdown from May 2023, which increased Netflix subscribers.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Netflix launched similar measures against account sharing in May 2023 and reported more subscribers as a result....”
“Disney Plus, operated by Disney, will restrict account sharing in Canada starting November 1....”
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Netflix Orders New Bridgerton Spinoff About Violet
Netflix has ordered a new Bridgerton spinoff series focusing on the matriarch Violet Bridgerton and her romance with Viscount Edmund Bridgerton. The announcement was made via the official Bridgerton Instagram account. Shonda Rhimes will executive produce, co-write, and showrun alongside Nicholas Nardini. The series does not yet have a title. Existing seasons 1-4 of Bridgerton and the first spinoff 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' are currently streaming on Netflix. Season 5, centered on Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling, is in production.
OAAA Launches Programmatic Center of Excellence for DOOH
AI is pushing advertising back into physical spaces due to declining trust in online content, the rise of AI answer engines that bypass websites, and the growth of agentic AI. Out-of-home (OOH) and digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising are gaining renewed relevance, with US OOH revenue up 10.7% YoY to $3.16B in Q2 and DOOH up 18.5%, representing nearly 40% of category revenue. To guide this evolution, the OAAA has launched a Programmatic & Automation Center of Excellence led by COO Patrick Dolan, focusing on standardization, workflow automation, agentic AI, reporting/attribution, and omnichannel/retail media integration. The initiative aims to automate both programmatic and static OOH processes, addressing friction points. However, this trend raises concerns about consumer opt-out options and the over-commercialization of public spaces, as noted by Ezra Klein.
Apple TV Bucks Unscripted Wave with Premium Scripted Focus
New research from Ampere Analysis reveals that Apple TV is the only major global streaming service to increase its proportion of scripted content in its US catalogue between Q2 2022 and Q2 2026. With unscripted content making up only 18% of its catalogue, Apple TV contrasts sharply with competitors like HBO Max, where unscripted hours approach 75%. Ampere's viewership data shows Apple's strategy works: Ted Lasso Season 4 drew 3.3 million unique US viewers in early September 2026, with other premium titles like Mayday and Silo also performing strongly. Looper Insights data indicates Apple's interface design, featuring portrait-oriented posters, directs 96.6% of Media Placement Value to Apple TV+ originals, reinforcing its premium positioning. Apple's approach is a deliberate trade, focusing on high-intent, culturally significant content rather than volume-driven engagement.
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