6 out of 10 Netflix Users Say "No Account Sharing? Then We Won't Watch"

Survey of 1,000 Netflix Users Aged 20-50
66.5% Respondents Say "Netflix Fees Are Expensive"

More than 6 out of 10 users of the online video service (OTT) Netflix expressed negative views on the policy to strengthen restrictions on account sharing, with many saying they would stop using Netflix if account sharing crackdowns were intensified.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, the Media Research Center of the Korea Press Foundation conducted a survey from the 23rd to the 27th of last month targeting 1,000 Netflix users aged 20 to 50. The results showed that 72.7% of respondents had a 'negative' reaction to the measure requiring additional fees when sharing Netflix accounts. Only 4.9% responded 'positive,' while 19.5% were 'neutral,' and 2.9% were 'not interested.'

If account sharing crackdowns are strengthened, 62.9% of people using accounts shared by non-cohabitants and 62.8% of those sharing subscription fees for the purpose of account sharing said they would stop using Netflix. Among those who pay the subscription fee themselves, only 33.0% said they would stop using Netflix.

Regarding the opinion that Netflix subscribers would decrease if account sharing crackdowns are strengthened, 78.7% agreed. Only 6.0% responded that subscribers would increase. Expectations that the number of subscribers would remain similar accounted for 12.0%, and 3.3% said they did not know.

66.5% of respondents said the current Netflix subscription fee is expensive. Meanwhile, 31.5%, about half that level, said the current fee is appropriate. 78.5% of respondents said the fact that they can share accounts with someone affects their decision to subscribe to or maintain Netflix membership or usage.

The most common way of watching Netflix was 'paying the subscription fee themselves' at 40.6%. This was followed by 'using an account shared by a cohabitant' at 31.9%, 'using an account shared by a non-cohabitant' at 19.7%, and 'sharing subscription fees for account sharing' at 7.8%.

The majority of Netflix users also used other OTT services. Coupang Play was the most popular at 35.4%, followed by TVING at 33.9%, Disney Plus at 24.0%, Wavve at 22.1%, Watcha at 10.0%, and Apple TV at 3.4%.

The results of this survey were published in Volume 9, Issue 2 of 'Media Issue,' released by the Korea Press Foundation. The sampling error is ±3.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.