How a concurrent stream limit works
Each time playback starts, the player registers a session with the service and then sends a regular heartbeat while it plays. The service counts active sessions for the account. If a new session would exceed the plan's limit, it is refused with a message naming the devices already watching.
Sessions that stop sending heartbeats expire after a short interval, so a closed app or a lost connection frees the slot.
Concurrent stream limit vs device limit
A stream limit counts devices playing right now. A device limit counts devices registered to the account in total, whether or not they are playing. Services often use both: for example five registered devices, of which two may stream at once.
Choosing the limit
- One stream suits a low-priced individual plan
- Two to four suits a household plan and is a common upgrade reason
- Pay-per-view tickets are normally limited to one stream, since a shared ticket is a lost sale
- Rights holders sometimes set the maximum in the license
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