iPlayer TV downloads are broken

Updated information on the problem: there’s a problem at the BBC’s end

For all that the BBC is nominally the British Broadcasting Corporation, they’re doing a rather good job of making sure that the only way to receive iPlayer content is through US software companies: Microsoft, Adobe, and Apple. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this traitorous—I’ve never been a big fan of nationalism—but it doesn’t seem particularly helpful to the digital economy of the UK in the longer term.

In the past couple of weeks, the BBC turned on SWF verification on the iPlayer RTMP servers, breaking clients using that method—notably the widely-used iPlayer streaming plugin for XBMC.

This didn’t affect my downloader which—in case you weren’t aware—works by imitating an iPhone (or iPod Touch).

I don’t have an iPhone: I have an Android phone. If the BBC hadn’t gone to such absurd lengths to ensure that only iPhones can access the HTTP/h.264 version of the iPlayer, I’d almost certainly be able to use it. As it is, I can’t. It’s this short-sightedness and bad faith that keeps me motivated to work on ways to circumvent these stupid, audience-hostile restrictions.

As of today, however, it appears that my downloader can no longer retrieve TV content from the iPlayer. Radio still works. I’m not yet sure what has changed, but I expect to have a fix in the next few days.

2010-03-07 17:50 UTC. Comments: 32.

Comments

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  1. gary

    Wrote at 2010-03-07 18:33 UTC using Firefox 3.5.7 on Windows XP:

    the very best of luck.

    Thanks for the update

  2. Stiggy

    Wrote at 2010-03-07 21:07 UTC using Firefox 3.5.8 on Windows XP:

    Not sure how all the proprietary shenanigans gets past the BBC Trust. Isn’t that what they’re supposed to be there to prevent? License fee money at work it ain’t…

    Anyhow thanks for the update and keep up the good work.

  3. Dan

    Wrote at 2010-03-07 22:44 UTC using Internet Explorer 8.0 on Windows XP:

    It may not be the downloader – there’s a lot of shows the Beeb has not made available for iPod/Phone over the last few days – QI, the Bubble, Mock the Week, the list goes on.

    When I’ve tried to download a show I know to be on the iPod interface (I’ve got an iPod touch), the downloader works fine.

    Not sure if that helps, but thought I’d let you know.

  4. Paul Battley

    Wrote at 2010-03-07 22:47 UTC using Chrome 5.0.346.0 on Linux:

    That really is useful, Dan. Thanks. I’m hoping to get hold of an old iPhone soon which should allow me to test things out myself.

  5. diva divan

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 00:05 UTC using Firefox 3.5.8 on Windows Vista:

    Just want to say that I’ve noticed it does download an episode of Armstrong & Miller which is a repeat showing, but doesn’t seem to download anything that’s new. Dunno if that’s of any significance, but I hope it gets working properly soon, thanks! :D

  6. Dan

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 07:54 UTC using Firefox 3.5.8 on Windows XP:

    It is only the ‘big new’ programmes you can’t download, like QI, Jonathan Ross etc.

    As Dan said above, everything else works fine. It’s almost like the Beeb is keeping its best stuff back somehow…

  7. Nethersage

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 10:18 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Windows XP:

    13:00 hrs on Friday 5th seems to be the approximate cut-off point. Programmes broadcast prior to that seem to be downloading satisfactorily with ipdl.exe.

  8. Chaz

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 10:34 UTC using Chrome 4.0.249.89 on Windows Vista:

    Five Days from last week might hold some clues … the first 4 eps are available on the iPod but E05 isn’t … and also isn’t available thru your tool. Pain the Beeb keep changing things as all I want to do is download it to watch on the train in the morning …

  9. Ed

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 11:12 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Windows XP 64 or Server 2003:

    get_iplayer.pl seems to work with flash downloads – at least I downloaded 5 days and scanned through them and they seemed ok…

  10. tom

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 13:22 UTC using Firefox 3.5.5 on Windows XP:

    This from the beeb iplayer site just now:

    “There is currently a problem with the availability of content on BBC iPlayer on iPhone, mobile WiFi and 3G.

    We’re currently experiencing problems publishing some content on BBC iPlayer on iPhone, mobile WiFi and 3G.

    This problem is under active investigation.”

    hhttp://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/…/iPlayer_unavailable

  11. bradley

    Wrote at 2010-03-08 17:20 UTC using Internet Explorer 8.0 on Windows Vista:

    Hope this get’s fixed soon

  12. ali

    Wrote at 2010-03-09 00:30 UTC using Firefox 3.5.8 on Windows XP:

    Curious as to whether this is related.

  13. Jeremy

    Wrote at 2010-03-09 11:04 UTC using Internet Explorer 7.0 on Windows XP:

    I’m having trouble with “On Expenses” which must have been up before 13:00 hrs on Friday 5th…

  14. Ben White

    Wrote at 2010-03-09 18:17 UTC using Internet Explorer 8.0 on Windows Vista:

    Hi mate,
    Great software. I have used it for a while now.
    Hope you manage to fix things.
    Ben

  15. Keith

    Wrote at 2010-03-10 09:47 UTC using Internet Explorer 7.0 on Windows Vista:

    Fingers crossed that you can fix this, your program is superb.

  16. Bran

    Wrote at 2010-03-11 15:05 UTC using Internet Explorer 7.0 on Windows XP:

    yeah Paul its seems pot luck at the moment some programmes will download and some won’t. Example – Fake Britain & Five days episodes. Im keeping the faith mate I know you will get past this annoyance. Cheers Bran.

  17. Lucy

    Wrote at 2010-03-12 11:17 UTC using Safari 531.21.10 on Mac OS X:

    Good luck fixing this, my kids and I are great fans of your downloader. :)

    Lucy.

  18. Johnno

    Wrote at 2010-03-12 12:38 UTC using Chrome 4.0.249.89 on Windows Vista:

    Paul, best downloader around, i’m sure you’ll overcome these issues. Keep up the good work

  19. K-T

    Wrote at 2010-03-14 19:38 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Mac OS X:

    No iPhone download possible for Wonders of the Solar System from last Sunday. I thought it was maybe because it was HD but now I’m not sure…

  20. K-T

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 11:33 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Mac OS X:

    Further to my previous, now downloading episode 2 of Wonders of the Solar System. Interestingly this one doesn’t have the HD symbol next to it – would this be anything to do with it? You can go fishing for the non HD version of episode 1 but even then you get the same code and once more, ‘program not available’.

  21. Matt Leiter

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 12:21 UTC using Chrome 4.0.249.78 on Windows XP:

    Managed to download ‘Formula 1 – 2010 – The Bahrain Grand Prix – Highlights.mp4’ this morning successfully. The same program failed last night (program not found error).

    However the file is encoded in avc1 format which doesn’t play on my ipod classic

  22. Matt Leiter

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 12:32 UTC using Chrome 4.0.249.78 on Windows XP:

    Correction – i set the media type of the file to ‘TV Show’ in itunes & it now appears in the video>tv show area on the ipod & plays correctly

  23. Lee Foster

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 12:40 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Windows XP:

    Great work Paul, and good luck in resolving this!

    Many thanks for your good work todate, it’s helped me out on many a long flight :-)

    Cheers,
    Lee

  24. martin

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 18:29 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Windows XP:

    seems to have been fixed as programs now download again ( post comment if its not working for you)

  25. Simon Morgan

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 19:22 UTC using Chrome 4.0.249.89 on Windows XP:

    Working for me now but not working on Sunday so hopefully problem is resolved.

  26. B

    Wrote at 2010-03-15 22:37 UTC using Firefox 2.0.0.20 on Windows 7:

    Works for me. Should work for everyone now.

  27. higgledyhiggles

    Wrote at 2010-03-16 15:44 UTC using Firefox 3.6 on Windows XP 64 or Server 2003:

    episode 7 of spirit warriors on cbbc iplayer doesn`t work, yet number 8 does.

  28. G

    Wrote at 2010-03-16 19:05 UTC using Firefox 3.5.8 on Windows XP:

    Many thanks for your programme

    I just tried to download last night’s Panorama but had the page doesn’t exist error message. Is there any way to find out which programmes have been set up for iphone and which haven’t? Otherwise we’re a bit in the dark if any fix is really working?

    Perhaps if posters reported those programmes that were successful for them and those that weren’t? I suspect that the Beeb is just being more circumspect over which programmes are being made available. I imagine it must be very frustrating for iphone owners some of whom may have been persuaded to buy by iplayer accessibility!!

    Anyway, many thanks once again for all your efforts.

  29. Simon Morgan

    Wrote at 2010-03-16 20:36 UTC using Chrome 4.0.249.89 on Windows XP:

    Hi G,
    I downloaded Panorama OK (Mon 15th).
    Simon

  30. Simon Morgan

    Wrote at 2010-03-29 07:02 UTC using Chrome 4.1.249.1042 on Windows XP:

    Is there a problem again at BBC? I tried to download BBC1/Lark Rise episode 12 (don’t ask ….!) and get a “Not currently available …” message. However downloads OK in BBC iPlayer.

    Is this an issue or are the BBC just a little slow in making the programme available for the iPhone?
    Simon

  31. Nemo

    Wrote at 2010-03-29 09:01 UTC using Firefox 3.6.2 on Windows 7:

    Another problem. Downloaded Wonders of Solar System ep4 but got Match of the Day2 ???. I’m sure this is the BBC and not the downloader. It has happened once before with another programme. Do they get their URL’s wrong?

  32. Graham Bowkett

    Wrote at 2010-04-13 16:05 UTC using Safari 531.22.7 on Mac OS X:

    I watch the Beeb (from the US) on iPlayer via Firefox >Vidalia>UK server. Works fine.
    I am trying to use Grabber with the same HTTP UK server address and all I get is “Unable to parse the metadata…”
    Am I doing something wrong?
    Thanks,
    Graham.

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