DRM-protected streams not playing anymore

[K3rm1t4]

While highlights of games are still watchable, any full games and the NBA TV live feed stopped working on my devices about a week ago. When selecting the corresponding menu entries in the add-on, Kodi tries to play the respective video (loading animation showing) but aborts without any error/warning messages moments later.

At first glance, it seems like this issue might be due to the DRM license server called in the add-on not being available anymore - excerpt from Kodi log file:

2020-04-29 20:43:49.280 T:4070047744  NOTICE: VideoPlayer::OpenFile: plugin://plugin.video.nba/?url=&mode=nba_tv_play_live&name=Live
2020-04-29 20:43:49.280 T:3278832352  NOTICE: Creating InputStream
2020-04-29 20:43:51.436 T:3278832352   ERROR: CCurlFile::FillBuffer - Failed: Couldn't resolve host name(6)
2020-04-29 20:43:51.437 T:3278832352   ERROR: CCurlFile::Open failed with code 0 for https://prod-lic2widevine.sd-ngp.net/proxy:
2020-04-29 20:43:51.437 T:3278832352   ERROR: AddOnLog: InputStream Adaptive: License server returned failure
2020-04-29 20:43:51.437 T:3278832352   ERROR: AddOnLog: InputStream Adaptive: License update not successful (no keys)
2020-04-29 20:43:51.472 T:3278832352   ERROR: AddOnLog: InputStream Adaptive: Initialize failed (SingleSampleDecrypter)
2020-04-29 20:43:51.474 T:3278832352   ERROR: CVideoPlayer::OpenInputStream - error opening [plugin://plugin.video.nba/?url=&mode=nba_tv_play_live&name=Live]

I'm using the current add-on version from @ivankokan's fork (master branch, latest).

Can anybody confirm this behaviour?

I would appreciate if somebody more knowledgable could take a look into this.
Thank you very much.

[jaydee73]

Yes, I can confirm this.

I'd also kindly ask @ivankokan to take a look. ;-)

[cablegoon]

Can't watch any games on archive for me... I am assuming this is the same issue.

[cablegoon]

I tried watching a live stream today and got the same issues. InputStream is not working. Hopefully Ivan is around to have a look at this before the season restarts

[jaydee73]

I doubt this is gonna happen....Unfortunately Ivan hasn't been active on this for several months now. I will prepare myself to have other options for the restart of the season...

[ivankokan]

Do not worry, guys! ;)

[K3rm1t4]

Well, I guess I began to worry then because I decided to debug this myself 😉

The fix is rather simple:
Changing this code to
licUrl = 'https://shield-twoproxy.imggaming.com/proxy|authorization=bearer ' + video['drm'] + '|R{SSM}|'
solves the issue.

@ivankokan:
I'm unable to create pull requests right now, unfortunately. But I hope this information saves you some valuable time anyways.

[cablegoon]

shield-twoproxy.imggaming.com

This worked for me - thanks K3rm1t4 and also ivankokan for keeping this plugin alive

[SNAPE15]

Well, I guess I began to worry then because I decided to debug this myself 😉

The fix is rather simple:
Changing this code to
licUrl = 'https://shield-twoproxy.imggaming.com/proxy|authorization=bearer ' + video['drm'] + '|R{SSM}|'
solves the issue.

@ivankokan:
I'm unable to create pull requests right now, unfortunately. But I hope this information saves you some valuable time anyways.

thank you. Worked for me.

[ivankokan]

Please test the latest from my fork and provide feedback.

[ivankokan]

Additionally, can someone test it on Android devices (and provide debug logs)? How about Kodi 19?

[jaydee73]

Do you consider a FireTV as an Android device? I would like to help, but I am on vacation for the next two weeks. If you still need some logs after that, I can provide them. I am on Kodi 18.7 atm with no intention to use v19 beta. ;-)

First test of the latest version:
Playback works as expected (only tested archived games). As mentioned: Kodi 18.7 on FireTV 4k stick.

[ivankokan]

Do you consider a FireTV as an Android device? I would like to help, but I am on vacation for the next two weeks. If you still need some logs after that, I can provide them. I am on Kodi 18.7 atm with no intention to use v19 beta. ;-)

Yes, whenever you can.

[ivankokan]

To all users having issues with playing live games (playback stops after 10 seconds, or an audio stream is lost):
xbmc/inputstream.adaptive#482 (comment)

Note the special remark for Android devices.

[ivankokan]

I tried updating InputStream Adaptive with respective build mentioned here: xbmc/inputstream.adaptive#482 (comment). Live (NBA TV) still breaks.

It seems I need to dig in a bit more to discover what is going on.

[SeBruno-again]

Please test the latest from my fork and provide feedback.

Dear @ivankokan,
unbelieveable ... -> but very happy and nice to see that the
"scene" and addon are still active!!

I tested the latest addon-version from your fork with/ under

OS -> Ubuntu 20.04
Kodi -> 18.6
Inputstream 2.4.5
xbmc.plugin.video.nba -> zip download yesterday evening

Just for information:
Live & archive streams (full game etc.) so far
not working in Ubuntu with that "config".
Not starting anymore....

Again "just an information"!

Anyway -
thanks a lot for your engagement
in keeping this thing going!!
&
Shout out - to the community :))

Best regards
SeBruno-
again

[ivankokan]

Please test the latest from my fork and provide feedback.

Dear @ivankokan,
unbelieveable ... -> but very happy and nice to see that the
"scene" and addon are still active!!

I tested the latest addon-version from your fork with/ under

OS -> Ubuntu 20.04
Kodi -> 18.6
Inputstream 2.4.5
xbmc.plugin.video.nba -> zip download yesterday evening

Just for information:
Live & archive streams (full game etc.) so far
not working in Ubuntu with that "config".
Not starting anymore....

Again "just an information"!

Anyway -
thanks a lot for your engagement
in keeping this thing going!!
&
Shout out - to the community :))

Best regards
SeBruno-
again

@SeBruno-again Please provide debug logs.

[cablegoon]

@ivankokan looks like something broke again - this time I am only getting Audio and that cuts off after 10 seconds - just get a blank stream
Fire TV (Android)
Kodi Version 18.7
Logs - https://pastebin.com/iR3cBuw8

[ivankokan]

It seems you are not following the thread, please check recent comments.

On the other hand, your log contains somewhat different error than we had before. Thanks.

I cannot find the InputStream Adaptive version in your log, can you please share it?

[cablegoon]

It seems you are not following the thread, please check recent comments.

On the other hand, your log contains somewhat different error than we had before. Thanks.

I cannot find the InputStream Adaptive version in your log, can you please share it?

It's 2.4.5
Just to add all was good until today and worked fine. (from your July 25th commit) I was even getting certain games with 1080p and 60 fps
Another edit - if I use the url edit mentioned by K3rm1t4 on the old commit I get only audio that dosent cut off.
If I use the latest zip I get only Audio and then that cuts off after 10 seconds

[ivankokan]

It seems you are not following the thread, please check recent comments.
On the other hand, your log contains somewhat different error than we had before. Thanks.
I cannot find the InputStream Adaptive version in your log, can you please share it?

It's 2.4.5
Just to add all was good until today and worked fine. (from your July 25th commit) I was even getting certain games with 1080p and 60 fps

Even live games? Weird.

[cablegoon]

Ok tested it out on an nvidea sheild (android) with 18.7
Plugin works great with only the K3rm1t4 url edit... Everything plays fine including nba tv live.
If I load your latest commit I get video but Audio drops off after 10 seconds. Definitely something weird happening on different android devices but it seems like the Audi dropping off after 10 seconds is a common issue on both devices with only your latest commit
InputStream is 2.4.5 on both devices

[ivankokan]

Ok tested it out on an nvidea sheild (android) with 18.7
Plugin works great with only the K3rm1t4 url edit... Everything plays fine including nba tv live.
If I load your latest commit I get video but Audio drops off after 10 seconds. Definitely something weird happening on different android devices but it seems like the Audi dropping off after 10 seconds is a common issue on both devices with only your latest commit
InputStream is 2.4.5 on both devices

Wow!!! Can you please tell me the base version/commit you put the new URL on?

[cablegoon]

xbmc.plugin.video.nba-cablegoon.zip

Its probably the one prior to the July 25th commit - cant say for sure - I have attached the zip here

[panpawel88]

Maybe "inputstream.adaptive.manifest_update_parameter=full" shouldn't be removed.

Developers reported some problems with audio when this parameter was missing:
xbmc/inputstream.adaptive#130

[panpawel88]

It works pretty well on Kodi 18 on RPi4 after adding:
item.setProperty('inputstream.adaptive.manifest_update_parameter', 'full')
to common.py to #92. I checked on recent live games: PHI-WSH and DEN-SAS. I don't observe any bufferings and 'audio lost' issues.

[cablegoon]

A little off topic... But I'm getting the LA game in 1080p and 60fps which is amazing. Never see then broadcast at this resolution before the restart and input stream is handling this like a champ.

[ivankokan]

Hi everyone, enjoy the fix within the master branch on my fork! @cablegoon, @panpawel88 Thank you for all help, it turned out it was my fault! ;)

[ivankokan]

A little off topic... But I'm getting the LA game in 1080p and 60fps which is amazing. Never see then broadcast at this resolution before the restart and input stream is handling this like a champ.

I will make all cameras available in couple of days. ;)

[Nickel1893]

You guys awesome. Thanks so much.

[Jhone55]

Check Compatibility: Ensure that the device or software you're using to play the stream is compatible with the DRM protection used by the content nba bite provider. Some older devices or outdated software may not support the latest DRM technologies.

Update Software: Make sure that your streaming software, web browser, or media player is up to date. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements that address compatibility issues with DRM-protected content.