ProTV Australia, Really good deal? or illegal?

whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 14:19
Last edited 19/12/2022 - 14:22

I have some less-tech savy family friends trying to get out of the free to air scene, and want to start streaming. They hate all the streaming fees all these services offer, and i keep telling them that if they want ease of use AND to be completely legal then just bite the bullet and pay for a streaming service.

They came back to me today with a smug look on their face thinking they solved all problems with something called "ProTV", they said they get netflix and "all other streaming services free". After doing some light research, i'm fairly confident something is sketchy, likely running their own version of plex/emby/jellyfin and selling it on some cheap android boxes. They sell these boxes for over $200 (similar looking boxes on aliexpress cost like $20), and they provide all of the typical services content forever free after that 1 time payment. However their still convinced it's all legit, mostly because it's being sold out of a store front (in punchbowl), actually marketed, and even has an ABN number & asics info.

I looked up "android TV" on aliexpress and found a number of boxes with the same remote style, so i'm fairly confident their just repackaging & installing their own apps on them.

So here are my questions:
- Does anybody know about this stuff?
- Is it legit?
- IF it is legit, how does this business stay afloat? with a 1 off payment model and then ongoing streaming services there after
- IF it's not legit, how can i convince these people that it's not legal without simply saying "it's not legal"?
- Also, IF its not legit, how does a business like this continue to run with all the correct ABN details and everything, i expect this to be the sort of thing you would find on fb marketplace not from a storefront.

Pro TV website
Pro TV facebook
Pro TV ABN

Entertainment

Related Stores

protv.com.au

Comments

brendanm on 19/12/2022 - 14:29

+13

Why do you care so much? Let them use it if they want, sounds great if it works.
- whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 15:18
  
  -5
  
  Because IF they don't want to be doing something illegal, i want to make sure they are properly informed.
  - brendanm on 19/12/2022 - 15:26
    
    +7
    
    The Netflix police might come around and get them?
    - whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 15:26
      
      +5
      
      Thankyou for being so helpful
      - brendanm on 19/12/2022 - 15:26
        
        @whitepuma: You are welcome. You already know that the access is obviously not legitimate, so not sure what you wanted from this post.
        
        whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 15:35
        
        +3
        
        @brendanm: i knew it wasn't legitimate base on it simply looking "sketchy" i was hoping for some actual proof outside of my gut feeling.
        
        brendanm on 19/12/2022 - 15:46
        
        +1
        
        @whitepuma: Are the services being provided meant to be paid for? Are they being paid for?
  - djsweet on 19/12/2022 - 15:36
    
    +6
    
    Anyone even considering this as a legitimate product is doing some serious mental gymnastics to try and keep a clean conscience. They don't need to be informed. They just want someone to validate their choices so they don't feel bad.
    - whitepuma on 20/12/2022 - 05:53
      
      Noo, these friends of mine aren't as tech savvy, and have never used streaming services before, this is the first time they are stepping away from free to air. They for really don't know or understand
jv on 19/12/2022 - 14:29

+4

NOTE:

"ProTv will not be liable if there's no contact or mail is lost ,it will be between you and Australia post."

Even though Australia post will only deal with the sender…
spackbace on 19/12/2022 - 14:33

+4

From the google reviews:

😐😤😡 If you know how to install free movie apps yourself and in particular the one sold on there protv box (movieHD APK), YouTube it and install it to a google tv box , Amazon firestick or android phone . Don't waist your time and money 💰💵 on this box like I did .
The Android box sold by protvAustralia wasn't advertised as a pre loaded APK box to me.
djsweet on 19/12/2022 - 14:33

+5

Definitely looks dodgy to me. Basically paying to sail the seven seas.
- Sinnerator on 21/12/2022 - 07:52
  
  Pay to be a pirate? Shut up and take my money !
ValueInvesting on 19/12/2022 - 14:35

+3

100% not legitimate. Impossible for them to give you access to that much content for a one off fee and have enough $ to pay the copyright holders.
mapax on 19/12/2022 - 14:45

As a luddite that had a quick look at the website the .au links to, it appears to be one of those streaming websites where you can view a heap of different movies or shows and your friend is just paying for a tv box with an app to access that website.
Jimothy Wongingtons on 19/12/2022 - 14:53

+1

Uptime/ streaming stability on some of these ‘services’ are typically spotty at best.

If they get 12 months out of it they’re probably a little ahead on going legit, even if the servers end up getting shut down I suppose.

Plus like the others said why do you care right. If they’re going to be smug about it let em deal with it themselves. Not to mention threat (although relatively rare) for copyright infringement. I doubt these Android boxes have vpn built in , or if they do are probably using the users as exit nodes to filter illegal traffic haha
- whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 15:21
  
  +1
  
  Because they are honest people which don't want to do anything illegal in terms of watching content.
  
  The smugness isn't the problem, They are my friends and i just want them to be properly informed.
  
  If after informing them they still want to use it then i'm fine, my hands are clean and i've done my part.
  - dabs on 20/12/2022 - 08:47
    
    -1
    
    Do you drive behind all your friends and families to make sure they don't break any road rule??
    - whitepuma on 20/12/2022 - 08:51
      
      +1
      
      i don't think you understand….i personally don't care if they are breaking the rules or laws….my problem is these friends don't want to break the law, and THEY think this is a perfectly legal business. I just want to make sure they are properly informed.
      
      If after telling them the facts, they then choose to continue to use it then i don't care.
      
      I don't want them to be under the impression they are doing nothing wrong when the fact is they may just be illinformed.
JimB on 19/12/2022 - 14:58

Are you sockpuppeting? lol

Looks sketchy as hell but you know what, sometimes you have to let people make their own mistakes.

It's only $250.

It's not like they are buying an overpriced 15 year old Jaguar on 100% finance with 16%p.a. interest.
- whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 15:24
  
  i assure you i am not sockpuppeting.
  
  +if sockpuppeting, why would I throw up the potential idea that it's illegal? would make me a pretty crappy sockpuppet
  
  I know it looks sketchy, and i said that. But when they asked why i think it's illegal, all i could say really is "it looks all sorts of sketchy" i just wanted more logical reasoning and proof to show it's not legit (assuming it isn't legit).
  - JimB on 19/12/2022 - 15:55
    
    I was being sarcastic on the sockpuppeting comment.
    - whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 15:57
      
      Sorry, my bad, should have picked up the sarcasm better
MS Paint on 19/12/2022 - 15:21

+1

The ABN doesn't mean shit. So they spent 5 minutes and some $$$ on a government website. That doesn't make them legit.
- Switchblade88 on 19/12/2022 - 20:10
  
  they spent 5 minutes and some $$$ on a government website
  
  That's exactly what the government does!
  
  (Case in point: Census servers.)
Sterio on 19/12/2022 - 15:37

+1

Google IPTV.

If you have a Samsung or LG smart TV, per reviews, you can download the IPTV Smarters pro App (this is according to what I have read). Alternatively, you can download the App or similar players through an Android Box.

You will then need to subscribe to a provider (approx $120 pa).

This should give you 15,000 plus world channels and other content to stream from a lot of countries.

I’ve had my android box for about 3 years and successfully stream a lot of US TV.

It’s best you do this yourself. Android boxes are available on eBay for about $70.
Johnsmithaus on 19/12/2022 - 17:12

+3

They legit have a full physical store as listed on their website (which you can find on street view), how is this even legal
- whitepuma on 20/12/2022 - 08:18
  
  i know ey, this is the thing that shocked me the most.
Switchblade88 on 19/12/2022 - 17:23

+1

IF it's not legit, how can i convince these people that it's not legal without simply saying "it's not legal"?

"That looks sketchy AF, I ain't gonna provide tech support when it inevitably stops working. Good Luck."

Wisdom is knowing when to fold one's hands.
- whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 18:04
  
  +3
  
  I like this, this helps
- whitepuma on 19/12/2022 - 18:05
  
  And yeah, the fact that they had a physical store made it harder for me to convince them it's illegal.
  - SF3 on 19/12/2022 - 22:51
    
    they had a physical store made it harder for me to convince them it's illegal.
    
    Representativeness bias.
  - Bob Svargis on 20/12/2022 - 08:27
    
    Yeah, but it’s Punchbowl. Lots of sketchy looking storefronts there.
randomusername2017 on 19/12/2022 - 18:20

+1

No buffering

*Excludes most NBN connections during peak
Look Up on 19/12/2022 - 20:15

@whitepuma You're well meaning but you've walked into Fight Club territory

Take a seat and think… really think… how a service such as this suddenly pops up with all the legalities in order, social media created and even a storefront for you to walk into

Can you think of the answer yet?

Think harder…

Yes… that's right

Stay TF away because your family friends won't be so smug very soon
7ekn00 on 19/12/2022 - 20:38

-2

You keep throwing this "illegal" word around without a clue to it's context!

How many "Pirates" are in Australian jails?

HINT: Piracy is a civil matter, not a criminal one - so does that still make it "illegal" in your context?
HINT2: Australian civil matters are far more lucrative for copyright holders when they go after companies or websites, not the schmucks using them
- b0rnwithabeard on 20/12/2022 - 09:54
  
  +1
  
  no, but they will bully people into paying a fine without the threat of legal action in which they will imply that they have a lot more money than you do and will bleed you dry (but actually do nothing). Look back to the Dallas Buyers Club situation.
  
  But you’re still correct - “illegal” isn’t really a concern. What will most likely happen is that they’ll ban the accounts and a few other details that may or may not effect them signing up legitimately in the future.
GrueHunter on 19/12/2022 - 20:43

Tell them it's a bad deal and that they should get a Firestick 4K on sale and a Real Debried account instead.
- MS Paint on 19/12/2022 - 23:01
  
  It's real debrid for the uninitiated
zonra on 19/12/2022 - 20:46

+3

I’d be less worried about legality issues and more worried that the service will simply stop working a month after paying the “lifetime” fee (e.g. server got closed down or blocked in AU).
Your friends would then effectively have paid $200 for a month of streaming.
Oofy Doofy on 19/12/2022 - 22:13

+1

Maybe this is the way you find your true calling…

https://pica.edu.au/
TimOfEastBNE on 20/12/2022 - 08:06

Needs a poll
b0rnwithabeard on 20/12/2022 - 09:58

+3

i mean, of course it’s dodgy. If you look at this deal and think it’s legit then you should have your internet access revoked immediately.

I’d be keen on finding out why they’re wanting to move away from FTA? It’s kinda like saying “I’m sick of riding my bike everywhere” and then complaining how much a brand new car costs
- whitepuma on 20/12/2022 - 10:33
  
  -1
  
  They want to move away from FTA for the same reason most people do
  sick of ads, & want to have access to the newer content that most people talk about nowadays.
  - StingyBritches on 20/12/2022 - 11:45
    
    +1
    
    … and still want ‘free’ from streaming services. Sheesh!
    - whitepuma on 20/12/2022 - 12:26
      
      -1
      
      well…they do want free, so does everyone else i assume, but that doesn't mean they will get it. Just like how i want to win the lottery, doesn't mean i will though.
      
      I'm just telling them "tough s**t, if you want streaming, and you want it all above board, it's going to cost you"
spackbace on 20/12/2022 - 13:15

My thought is they're selling the devices through the shopfront, and online, with instructions to download the app for the free streaming etc etc

That's how they're able to run the shopfront

Reviews are full of "thanks for the help in setting it up" etc

So device itself is legal, business is questionable, just depends who's hosting/producing the app

Hence this review
- whitepuma on 20/12/2022 - 15:24
  
  Ahhhh, this makes a lot more sense
jonkvh on 20/12/2022 - 16:32

+1

It's just IPTV. Been around for years. The apps now are just aggregators. You can do it all yourself without having to fork out any dosh.
Whatisthatvelvet on 22/12/2022 - 07:03

Can get the same thing for half the price they are wanting.
Grab a Google TV device. An IPTV sub off AliExpress. And a Real Debrid account.
- whitepuma on 22/12/2022 - 09:06
  
  -1
  
  yeah….but the premium you're paying is for the less tech savy that don't know how to do all that.
  
  Regardless though, i think this covers if it's legit or not
Pippy4me on 20/03/2023 - 16:15

Protv is not worth buying, when you buy the box you only get the movie app full of ads for free, no live tv it’s subscription only. Now here’s the catch,
To get live tv it’s $300 and not for all channels, extra channels cost, you also get the Protv movie app again but with no ads. The app they use is moviehd and it’s free on android. Don’t buy it, as there are cheaper alternatives out there.

ProTV Australia, Really good deal? or illegal?

Related Stores

Comments

New Forum Topics