Youtube video description fails and tiny thumbnail picture

[arisboch]

Please follow the guide below

• You will be asked some questions and requested to provide some information, please read them carefully and answer honestly
• Put an x into all the boxes [ ] relevant to your issue (like this: [x])
• Use the Preview tab to see what your issue will actually look like

---

Make sure you are using the latest version: run youtube-dl --version and ensure your version is 2017.08.27.1. If it's not, read this FAQ entry and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected.

• I've verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2017.08.27.1

Before submitting an issue make sure you have:

• At least skimmed through the README, most notably the FAQ and BUGS sections
• Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones

What is the purpose of your issue?

• Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl)
• Site support request (request for adding support for a new site)
• Feature request (request for a new functionality)
• Question
• Other

---

casval@casval-X6815 /tmp % youtube-dl -v  --get-description https://www.youtube.com/watch\?v\=BryHihkw7uo        
[debug] System config: []
[debug] User config: []
[debug] Custom config: []
[debug] Command-line args: [u'-v', u'--get-description', u'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BryHihkw7uo']
[debug] Encodings: locale UTF-8, fs UTF-8, out UTF-8, pref UTF-8
[debug] youtube-dl version 2017.08.27.1
[debug] Python version 2.7.13 - Linux-4.10.0-33-generic-x86_64-with-Ubuntu-17.04-zesty
[debug] exe versions: avconv 3.2.4-1build2, avprobe 3.2.4-1build2, ffmpeg 3.2.4-1build2, ffprobe 3.2.4-1build2, rtmpdump 2.4
[debug] Proxy map: {}
WARNING: unable to extract uploader nickname
[debug] Default format spec: bestvideo+bestaudio/best

---

The extraction of the video description fails (and the program also gives a wrong error message about a missing uploader nickname, even though the nickname is extracted). The extracted thumbnail also is very tiny even when I tried to download 720p videos.

[zouhair]

Youtube has had some graphic changes that may be the cause of this

[yliharma]

Same thing here for the mini thumbnail but I do get the description:

youtube-dl -v -e --get-thumbnail --get-description https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch_2MBzfmXY
[debug] System config: []
[debug] User config: []
[debug] Custom config: []
[debug] Command-line args: [u'-v', u'-e', u'--get-thumbnail', u'--get-description', u'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch_2MBzfmXY']
[debug] Encodings: locale UTF-8, fs UTF-8, out UTF-8, pref UTF-8
[debug] youtube-dl version 2017.08.27.1
[debug] Python version 2.7.6 - Linux-4.4.0-81-generic-x86_64-with-Ubuntu-14.04-trusty
[debug] exe versions: ffmpeg 3.3.1, ffprobe 3.3.1
[debug] Proxy map: {}
WARNING: unable to extract uploader nickname
[debug] Default format spec: bestvideo+bestaudio/best
Travis Strikes Again: PAX West Trailer - Nintendo Switch
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ch_2MBzfmXY/default.jpg

[MacDada]

$ youtube-dl --version
2017.08.27.1
$ youtube-dl -j https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7oiro8tYA4 | grep -Po '"thumbnail":.*?[^\\]",'
WARNING: unable to extract uploader nickname
"thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V7oiro8tYA4/default.jpg",

youtube-dl now returns a default thumb: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V7oiro8tYA4/default.jpg

I'm quite sure it used to return maxresdefault thumb: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V7oiro8tYA4/maxresdefault.jpg

Question: is it going to be "fixed" and youtube-dl will return maxresdefault thumbs or should I generate thumb urls by myself, without the use of youtube-dl for that matter?