Unable to download video with -f 17 or -f 36 anymore

[Roland74]

Hello

Please follow the guide below

my version is:
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ youtube-dl --version
2019.02.18

---

Make sure you are using the latest version: run youtube-dl --version and ensure your version is 2019.02.18. 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 Issues with outdated version will be rejected.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 2019.02.18

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
• Checked that provided video/audio/playlist URLs (if any) are alive and playable in a browser

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

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The following sections concretize particular purposed issues, you can erase any section (the contents between triple ---) not applicable to your issue

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If the purpose of this issue is a bug report, site support request or you are not completely sure provide the full verbose output as follows:

Add the -v flag to your command line you run youtube-dl with (youtube-dl -v <your command line>), copy the whole output and insert it here. It should look similar to one below (replace it with your log inserted between triple ```):

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ youtube-dl -v -f 36 https://youtu.be/pRSjyeogm5U
[debug] System config: []
[debug] User config: []
[debug] Custom config: []
[debug] Command-line args: [u'-v', u'-f', u'36', u'https://youtu.be/pRSjyeogm5U'                                                                                                                                   ]
[debug] Encodings: locale UTF-8, fs UTF-8, out UTF-8, pref UTF-8
[debug] youtube-dl version 2019.02.18
[debug] Python version 2.7.13 (CPython) - Linux-4.14.92+-armv6l-with-debian-9.6
[debug] exe versions: none
[debug] Proxy map: {}
[youtube] pRSjyeogm5U: Downloading webpage
[youtube] pRSjyeogm5U: Downloading video info webpage
[youtube] {18} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {136} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {247} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {135} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {244} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {134} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {243} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {133} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {242} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {160} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {278} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {140} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {171} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {249} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {250} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
[youtube] {251} signature length 41.40, html5 player vflX2rhq7
ERROR: requested format not available
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py", line 805, in extract_info
    return self.process_ie_result(ie_result, download, extra_info)
  File "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py", line 859, in process_ie_result
    return self.process_video_result(ie_result, download=download)
  File "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py", line 1632, in process_video_result
    expected=True)
ExtractorError: requested format not available

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If the purpose of this issue is a site support request please provide all kinds of example URLs support for which should be included (replace following example URLs by yours):

• Single video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaW_jenozKc
• Single video: https://youtu.be/BaW_jenozKc
• Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4lCao7KL_QFVb7Iudeipvc2BCavECqzc

Note that youtube-dl does not support sites dedicated to copyright infringement. In order for site support request to be accepted all provided example URLs should not violate any copyrights.

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Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

I normally do youtube-dl -F
That lists all available formats.
Some days ago the videos above offered 17 and 36 as very small formats. I received a 3gp video file.
Now I am not offered the format any more. All files are much larger now e.g.
youtube-dl -F https://youtu.be/pRSjyeogm5U
[youtube] pRSjyeogm5U: Downloading webpage
[youtube] pRSjyeogm5U: Downloading video info webpage
[info] Available formats for pRSjyeogm5U:
format code extension resolution note
249 webm audio only DASH audio 55k , opus @ 50k, 1.77MiB
250 webm audio only DASH audio 69k , opus @ 70k, 2.33MiB
140 m4a audio only DASH audio 130k , m4a_dash container, mp4a.40.2@128k, 5.64MiB
171 webm audio only DASH audio 132k , vorbis@128k, 4.43MiB
251 webm audio only DASH audio 138k , opus @160k, 4.58MiB
278 webm 256x144 144p 96k , webm container, vp9, 24fps, video only, 3.85MiB
160 mp4 256x144 144p 109k , avc1.4d400c, 24fps, video only, 2.99MiB
242 webm 426x240 240p 225k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 6.39MiB
133 mp4 426x240 240p 301k , avc1.4d4015, 24fps, video only, 6.73MiB
243 webm 640x360 360p 412k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 11.33MiB
134 mp4 640x360 360p 675k , avc1.4d401e, 24fps, video only, 12.24MiB
244 webm 854x480 480p 732k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 14.82MiB
135 mp4 854x480 480p 991k , avc1.4d401e, 24fps, video only, 17.21MiB
136 mp4 1280x720 720p 1112k , avc1.4d401f, 24fps, video only, 22.47MiB
247 webm 1280x720 720p 1187k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 22.18MiB
18 mp4 640x360 medium 517k , avc1.42001E, mp4a.40.2@ 96k (44100Hz), 22.55MiB (best)

What happened. Why is 17 and 36 not offered any more.
Kind regards,
Roland

[dstftw]

Address this question to Youtube.

[Roland74]

It seems to be a general issue because I see this behaviour for all youtube links which had worked recently with this format. Is it your suggestion that I should address this question to youtube or could you do it for me. To be honest I do not know how to contact the youtube support and it's probably easier if you could address this question to youtube as you know more details.
It would be great if you could help me.
Best regards,
Roland

[Roland74]

I am not sure if I asked my question to youtube correctly. Please see:
https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/1944781?hl=en
It would be great if you could help me.
Best regards,
Roland

[Hrxn]

Pretty likely that this is an intentional change by YouTube, i.e. they are currently retiring some specific formats from their infrastructure.