The Kayo Crackdown: Is the End of Password Sharing Here?

Shared streaming is in the focus as it now appears clear Kayo Sports via the Foxtel Group and Hubbl are ramping up their focus on customers sharing their password with family or friends to give access to Kayo in other homes.

This follows a strict crackdown by streaming giant Netflix in recent years and while other streamers have mentioned it we haven’t seen a lot of evidence of the policy being enforced.

While we can’t find evidence of how long it’s been within the Terms and Conditions of Kayo/Hubbl, it is certainly there now, stating:

You must not permit another person (other than a member of your household) to use your Hubbl Account.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and Hubbl Account details.  If you permit another member of your household to use your Hubbl Account details and password they must agree to keep it confidential. If you know or suspect that your password has been compromised, or you suspect or become aware of any other breach of security, you must tell us immediately. In these circumstances, you must also ensure that your password is changed as soon as possible.    If we reasonably believe that there has been, or is likely to be, a breach of security of your password, we may block or reset your password and require you to reset your password.

Regardless, it seems the crackdown is on, with keen sports viewers in the EFTM community sharing this screen:

We reached out to Kayo for comment, with a spokesperson telling us “A small number of account holders who have been identified as likely engaging in ongoing account sharing will need to update their password. “

“This approach is consistent with actions taken across the streaming industry and is in line with our existing terms and conditions around account sharing.“

For now, it feels like a soft launch of this detection and enforcement. Many EFTM readers reporting simply changing the password was enough to proceed as “normal”.

Others simply close the message and continue on.

While that may work now, you can certainly assume that Kayo is increasing its detection process with a view to limiting Kayo to a single household per account.

Detection is just the first part of this, with the ability to use outside the “household” an important part of the streaming service. For those on holidays or short trips – something Netflix has enabled with temporary exemptions via email.

Following several price rises in recent years, and now a price of $45.99 per MONTH on the premium version, which – by the way, only allows for two simultaneous viewers, it’s a bitter pill to swallow for sports fans.