I notice that there are a lot of news online that say that these TV boxes you can buy in Sim Lim are illegal. Please note - I want to do things legally, but if there is no free way to do it illegally, then I am going to not do it.
Can someone tell me the difference between a cheap TV box (especially if I uninstall any TV streaming apps etc) and a "legal" one? Other than hardware specs differences. Is there anything else that makes the cheap one illegal?
All the channels I want to watch are all available online via the broadcasters own websites:
- Thai PBS - https://program.thaipbs.or.th/live
- SCTV - https://www.sctv.co.id/live-streaming
- TV3 & 8TV - https://www.tonton.com.my/liveChannel?titleId=tv3
Given that these channels are all freely available from the broadcasters themselves (SCTV was even available via my analog TV until recently), then is watching them via a TV app (e.g. new CloudTV app) deemed illegal?
Thank you
I am not a lawyer so take my opinion with a pint of salt.
In Singapore context cheaper ones are usually not bundled with those illegal apps. More expensive ones from SLS/etc are usually preloaded box bundled with illegal apps. But expensive box like Nvidia Shield TV is legal since it is not bundled with illegal apps. So cheap or expensive does not really matter. It is the preloaded apps that is the key differentiator.
Boxes like Mi Box S should be legal. Boxes like Ubox is illegal or will be illegal.
As for new Cloud TV, it has the free section. The legality of the app is dubious as it also offers paid subscription which I believe is gray or illegal.
But it is said the law will chase those box seller and not really consumers using streaming (downloading is illegal). So you should not need to worry too much.