Four other households share my Netflix subscription, admits Nadine Dorries Business

The culture secretary has admitted flouting Netflix rules by sharing her password with four other households across the country.

Nadine Dorries said she allowed four other people to use her login details, including her mother, a move that violates Netflix’s terms and conditions, which prohibit users living separately from using the same account.

While it has long tolerated the practice among users, the streaming giant is now pursuing a crackdown on password sharing in a bid to shore up its finances following a sharp downturn in subscriber numbers.

Ms Dorries told the Culture Committee: “I thought it was still an incredibly generous system. I mean my mum has access to my account, and so do the kids. There are four other people who can access my Netflix account in different parts of the country..

“Well, we’re probably not supposed to do that.”

Appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Thursday, Ms Dorries rejected the idea that Channel 4 could switch to a subscription model once privatised.

She was asked about the privatization of Channel 4, which will be voted on by MPs after it was included in the recent media bill.

Ms Dorries did not reveal the full terms of the sale, but said Channel 4’s public service mission would be protected for a decade under new ownership and broadcaster Gogglebox would have the freedom to make its own shows.

Regarding the station’s new business models, she said she “doesn’t see a scenario” where it could be funded entirely by subscriptions once discharged by the government.

“As a public service broadcaster that’s not on the table, it’s just not on the cards at all. I don’t see a scenario where that would happen,” she said.

Ms Dorries also defended Netflix against saying it was not a company UK broadcasters should aspire to emulate, as it cut 150 staff due to slowing growth.

“I think for people who are trying to paint a picture that Netflix failed and are struggling, they’re overdoing the pudding slightly,” she added. “Netflix has done what many companies do, which is to hit the point of market saturation – which is a good thing for Netflix.

“But they are going to have to revise their business model, and they will revise it in a way that will make it much harder for public service broadcasters, who depend on advertising revenue.”