When a television is identified as being outside of the primary residence associated with a Netflix account, limitations on viewing content may occur. This situation arises because Netflix intends for standard subscriptions to be used within a single household. For example, attempting to stream content on a TV at a vacation home, while the primary account user is streaming on their TV at their main address, might trigger a notification indicating the television is not part of the authorized household.
The importance of understanding this concept stems from Netflix’s efforts to prevent unauthorized account sharing and to ensure fair compensation for the content it licenses. Benefits of adhering to Netflix’s terms include maintaining the integrity of the streaming service, supporting content creators, and potentially avoiding account restrictions or termination. Historically, Netflix allowed broader sharing, but increased competition and the need to generate revenue led to stricter enforcement of its household-based usage policy.