Netflix is planning to bring in ads and crack down on password-sharing

But I don't wanna log out of my sister's ex-boyfriend's Aunty's dog's account!

An unexpectedly sharp drop in subscribers has Netflix considering changes to its service that it has long resisted: Minimising password sharing and introducing ads.

The changes are designed to help Netflix regain the momentum it lost over the past year.

Netflix's customer base fell by 200,000 subscribers during the January-March quarter. 

It's been estimated that about 100 million households worldwide are watching its service for free by using the account of a friend or another family member. Guilty...

To get more people to pay for their own accounts, Netflix indicated it will expand a trial program it has been running in three Latin American countries — Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. In these locations, subscribers can extend service to another household for a discounted price. 

They're also going to introduce ads to reduce the costs of subscriptions.

While Netflix clearly believes these changes will help it build upon its current 221.6 million worldwide subscribers, the moves also risk alienating customers to the point they cancel the service.

This article was first published by the NZ Herald and is republished here with minor edits and permission. 

Check out what's coming to Netflix in May here!