Smart notification for over-the-top (OTT) streaming among multiple devices

In a system providing media content via an over-the-top content distribution system, an apparatus for providing a subscriber account undersubscription message, comprising:

• a web server, the web server having:
• a processor;
• a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing processor instructions including processor instructions for:
• receiving a request to receive and play the media content from a requesting client device, the requesting client device being one of a plurality of client devices enabled to receive media content according to a subscriber account;
• determining that the subscriber account is undersubscribed;
• responsive to determining that the subscriber account is undersubscribed:
• (i) transmitting information to the requesting client device, the information including data indicating the subscriber account is undersubscribed;
• and (ii) without initiating the transmission of the media content to the requesting client device, restricting a current usage of the subscriber account by a client device other than the requesting client device.