PBS Video MP4 DownLoad Win App Recommendations?

[KenithOlson]

Hi,

Am doing something wrong because I can watch PBS free videos (ex FRONTLINE Supreme Revenge) but am unable to download.

Have tried apps recently mentioned (TVDownloader-1.18.2, streamlink-1.1.1) nothing.

Must say I also tried youtube-dl-gui-1.651 also nothing.

Appreciate any comments/suggestions...

Thanks

Ken

[LZAA]

Need link.

[Sviests]

I assume it's this:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supreme-revenge/

Any plugin will pick up the .m3u8 (automatically switched to 1080p):

https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/videos/frontline/88f95b71-09a5-4ca2-9b4f-a3ce62dd8cf7/200...80p-6500k.m3u8

And then you can use any tool to capture it. FFMPEG, or streamlink or youtube-dl ,whatever. Or VideoDownloadHelper plugin for browser will also save it.
It's not geoblocked, and saves easily to me.

[jagabo]

Youtube-dl can download directly from the page link:

youtube-dl -F https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supreme-revenge/

shows these versions are available:

[pbs] Downloading JSON metadata
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Downloading webpage
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Downloading widget/partnerplayer page
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Downloading portalplayer page
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Downloading 0 video url info
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Downloading m3u8 information
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Downloading 1 video url info
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Checking http-2000k video URL
[pbs] supreme-revenge: http-2000k video URL is invalid, skipping
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Checking http-6500k video URL
[pbs] supreme-revenge: http-6500k video URL is invalid, skipping
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Checking http-4500k video URL
[pbs] supreme-revenge: http-4500k video URL is invalid, skipping
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Checking http-3000k video URL
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Checking http-1100k video URL
[pbs] supreme-revenge: http-1100k video URL is invalid, skipping
[pbs] supreme-revenge: Checking http-730k video URL
[pbs] supreme-revenge: http-730k video URL is invalid, skipping
[info] Available formats for 3029091721:
format code  extension  resolution note
0            mp4        unknown
hls-233      mp4        416x234     233k , avc1.64000c, mp4a.40.2
hls-461      mp4        480x270     461k , avc1.640015, mp4a.40.2
hls-848      mp4        640x360     848k , avc1.64001e, mp4a.40.2
hls-1261     mp4        768x432    1261k , avc1.64001e, mp4a.40.2
hls-2180     mp4        960x540    2180k , avc1.64001f, mp4a.40.2
hls-3202     mp4        1280x720   3202k , avc1.64001f, mp4a.40.2
http-3202    mp4        1280x720   3202k , avc1.64001f, mp4a.40.2
hls-4735     mp4        1280x720   4735k , avc1.64001f, mp4a.40.2
hls-6778     mp4        1920x1080  6778k , avc1.640028, mp4a.40.2 (best)

Then download the version you want. For example to get the 960x540 version:

youtube-dl -f hls-2180 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supreme-revenge/

[KenithOlson]

Thanks everyone for your comments!

LZAA the correct link was posted by Sviests.

Sviests "Any plugin will pick up the .m3u8 (automatically switched to 1080p)" I am a complete beginner concerning this. Any links to tutorials to get me up to speed? Have no idea what "Any plugin" is. Thanks

Forgot to mention. The Windows 7 64 bit PC used for the Internet, I can Not install any apps but can use any software that runs but does Not install (portable Windows apps).

The apps I previously mentioned seemed to run OK.

jagabo I think the problem is me. I searched for a user guide or man to help me did not find. "Windows users can download an .exe file and place it in any location on their PATH" I have No idea?

As a beginner I feel more comfortable with a GUI.

Searched YouTube using youtube-dl gui and found "How to download youtube videos using simple Tool called yotube-dl-gui" and many others.

Appreciate guidance on best tutorials.

Thanks

Ken

[LZAA]

Add-on: Video DownloadHelper.

[jimdagys]

Tubedigger ($15) is good GUI to download videos.
https://indygizmo.com/coupon/tubedigger/

[KenithOlson]

LZAA,

Thanks for the link! Used it and tried to install on the default FireFox Failed so answered part of my "Am doing something wrong" Made Screen Cap & tried to upload image did Not work? When done I uploaded all screens

Then used FireFox Portable v66.0.5 and install worked! Also made Screen Cap.

Went to FRONTLINE Supreme Revenge website and was able to watch entire program. Tried to download and got message Companion App required. DL Comp App v1.2.4 and tried to run but got error Need Adm Rights which I do Not have.

Frustration!!!

Question: 1. Is there a portable version of "Video DownloadHelper Companion App 1.2.4"? If Not

2. Is there a portable version of Video DownloadHelper with Companion App 1.2.4 (so everything is included)?

Ken

[KenithOlson]

Hi jimdagys,

Thanks for the link. Used the link to download then tried to run but got error message Need Adm Rights so does not work.

[LZAA]

1. Use: Firefox 58 + add-on Video DownloadHelper.
2. Do not install the Comp App v1.2.4.
3. In Video DownloadHelper, find the URL.
4. Use youtube-dl.

[jagabo]

jagabo I think the problem is me. I searched for a user guide or man to help me did not find. "Windows users can download an .exe file and place it in any location on their PATH" I have No idea?

You can see Windows' search path by typing "path" at a command line. Put a copy of youtube-dl.exe in C:\Windows\System32 (almost every Windows computer boots from drive C and has Windows installed in C:\Windows). You may need to put ffmpeg.exe there too. If you can't put the file(s) there just use the full path. For example, if it is in the root of drive E:

e:\youtube-dl  -f hls-2180 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supreme-revenge/

[KenithOlson]

LZAA

Thanks again for your help!

Went to https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20...tion%2058.0.2/ and DL V58.0.2 Installed OK

Used your Video DownloadHelper link to Video DownloadHelper 7.3.5 and tried to add-on but Failed Am Suprised because worked with FireFox Portable v66.0.5???

Tried 2nd time with same result???

Screens of this

[LZAA]

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/versions/

[KenithOlson]

Update: Tried FireFox v67 Portable and added Video DownloadHelper Worked!

Was able to capture Resolution Drop Down Box with different app.

Still have problem Video DownloadHelper needs Comp App v1.2.4.

Is there a work-around?

Thanks

Ken

[Sviests]

You do need to install that companion app tho, you should be redirected to .exe setup from the extension

[KenithOlson]

LZAA,

Repeated your 24th May 2019 13:02 instructions

1. Use: Firefox 58 + add-on Video DownloadHelper. Used FF58 from https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20...on%2058.0%2C1/ Installed OK

Next used your link for add-on Video DownloadHelper. https://www.videohelp.com/software/Video-DownloadHelper with FF58 Port

Got same Download Failed.

[LZAA]

3. Click on the Video DownloadHelper icon. Select a video file. Open the menu. In the download properties, find the URL.

[KenithOlson]

LZAA,

Used FireFox v67 with DownloadHelper 7.3.6.

"3. Click on the Video DownloadHelper icon. Select a video file. Open the menu. In the download properties, find the URL."

Followed your instructions.

In Menu there is No DownLoad Properties as seen in screen capture. Only download properties was found in Preferences.

[LZAA]

1. Use: Firefox 58 + add-on Video DownloadHelper.

[KenithOlson]

LZAA,

Thanks again for your help!

Am giving up, I have Not found a Firefox v58 Portable able to install DownloadHelper v7.3.6.

Ken

[LZAA]

1. Use: Firefox 59 + add-on Video DownloadHelper.

[jagabo]

I can't believe you're still having trouble downloading from PBS. It's one of the easiest sites to download from. Try this:

https://www.onlinevideoconverter.com/youtube-converter

Enter the URL and select Start. Follow the prompts, select Download.

[KenithOlson]

jagabo,

"I can't believe you're still having trouble downloading from PBS. It's one of the easiest sites to download from. Try this: https://www.onlinevideoconverter.com/youtube-converter"

Just tried OnlineVideoConverter.com v3.0 with "Trump's Trade War" https://www.pbs.org/video/trumps-trade-war-yf4cb1/ entered this url and changed video quality from automatic to 480p.

Clicked on Start and processing went to 100% and got screen "FRONTLINE - Trump's Trade War.mp4 252.43MB"

Clicked DOWNLOAD button and it went back to orig website. Checked Dowload section Nothing???

Any ideas what went wrong?