ERROR: Unsupported URL:

[asd3210]

Checklist

• I'm asking a question
• I've looked through the README and FAQ for similar questions
• I've searched the bugtracker for similar questions including closed ones

Question

WRITE QUESTION HERE

Dears,

i am using YouTube-dll for a while but can't use it for the domain "https://online.watchandknow.cz". I have made the free registration, however even with using the parameters -u -p and filling out the desired URL , it fails.

Thanks

BR,
ASD

[asd3210]

WARNING: Falling back on generic information extractor.
[generic] 61604?from=https://online.watchandknow: Downloading webpage
[generic] 61604?from=https://online.watchandknow: Extracting information
ERROR: Unsupported URL: https://online.watchandknow.cz/play/#/film/61604?from=https:%2F%2Fonline.watchandknow.cz%2Ffilm%2Fposledni-hodiny-pompeji-nove-hadanky-the-last-hours-of-pompeii-new-enigmas%2F

[torbs723]

Hi
It means that https://online.watchandknow.cz/ is not a site that youtube-dl knows how to get videos from. All sites are different so youtube-dl needs different methods for different sites. If you try to download from a site that it doesn't know, it will try the generic extractor which uses the most common methods to try and find the video file, but if that doesn't work then it will give you the Unsupported Site error.

[asd3210]

Hi Torbs723,

thank you for your quick answer. In this case I can understand now the reason of the error. However is there any manual way how can I quickly analyze the web and maybe find out the way to download their stream manually?
I am only thinking about:

• safe add-on to browser (after the job I will remove it)
  or
• if Safari or Chrome stores this final complete stream it some kind of temp or cache folder

Sorry for my noob questions.

THank you

Kind Regards,
Martin

[torbs723]

Hi Martin,
You can try the page source code or "Inspect Element" and see if they do help but probably it will be unlikely.

safe add-on to browser

It's always difficult to know what is safe and there are various add-ons out there but the success rate is hit and miss.

if Safari or Chrome stores this final complete stream it some kind of temp or cache folder

Unfortunately very unlikely these days. Things are generally delivered in lots of small chunks that run from the server rather than being downloaded locally. That's why you don't see many video sites buffering the whole video anymore.

You could put in a site support request to see if it would be possible for youtube-dl to add support for it (again some sites are just impossible to download from).
Another option is to screen record the video. It's a pain to do but could work as a last resort.

[pukkandan]

@asd3210 What is the url you are trying to download?

[rpvcg]

It seems that watchandknow.cz is using the shift72 platform, which means drm; widevine in most browsers. And also enhanced geo-checking; digital element’s hyperlocal geolocation technology.

[asd3210]

Dear all,

@torbs723

• OK got the point regarding the add-ons, its about check and see
• I meant that if I will watch the entire video if it will be kept in cache or etc. But I will raise the new ticket request as you suggested to me. Lets se

@pukkandan

• its "watchandknow.cz". it can require quick registration. Nothing bothering

@stinkteeth

• i do not know the shift72 to be honest. If it has DRM protection, does it mean the show stopper or not?
• as for the geo-checking, it seems that until end October 2020 the content is available free of charge, but I won't be able to absorb all within 10 days , thats why i am looking for some options how to save it for later.

Thank you all for your answers, looking for your next ones

BR,
M

[pukkandan]

@asd3210 I did register in the site, but cant find the link to watch videos. Maybe because of geo restriction? If you can give me the url of the actual video, I can have a look.

[pukkandan]

Anyway, if it is DRM protected, it is unlikely to be downloadable.

[rpvcg]

@asd3210 It is a show stopper in the sense that youtube-dl never has and never will support widevine.
As for the geo checking, if you are in CZ, then it doesn't matter.

Only the video has drm. The audio is clear. The subtitles are also clear. The audio can be downloaded with youtube-dl by finding the mpd url, or the audio mp4 url, and using it as input to youtube-dl.

The example content that you referenced above (The Last Hours of Pompeii - New Enigmas), I believe was originally on channel 5 uk, and still is available from other sources. Some of the other content is available from other sources, some is not.

Search reddit or videohelp for more details about shift72. But generally the drm used here is probably going to give you trouble.

[underhandedness]

hyperlocal geolocation technology

That's an upsetting idea.

[digitalelement.com] granular location information worldwide while maintaining user anonymity. Additionally, location can be combined with other demographics to enhance targeting capability and advertising effectiveness

One of those claims seems very false.