need answer within 7 days, BBC Iplayer and windows media player

[talx]

iv just been on the BBC iplayer site, as i missed a tv prog' over Xmas, i downloaded their player and searched for the programe i wanted, when i found it i clicked the download button and it asked if i wanted it to play it in iplayer or save the file to a folder on my pc.

I chose save it to a folder, next to the option 'to save to a folder' was an icon for VLC player (orange cone), so i saved it.

When opening the folder on my pc where this file was, the file was a vlc player file (orange cone again) and an extension .wmv, but when this file was opened it played all blocky in the vlc player a box appeared asking if i wanted to download an upgrade version of vlc, i thought this was something to do with a plugin so it could play this video file, i downloaded the upgrade but still the video was blocky (you could not watch it at all).

I then tried to open it in 'Windows Media Player' it told me i needed to download something to play this video file, so i did and the video file played.

What i want to ask is:

1. why couldnt Vlc player play it and can i do something so it can.

2. The pc i have connected to the net is not that powerfull, so playing this video file (from the BBC Iplayer site) in Windows media player is a bit jerky, i have a more powerfull pc but not connected to the net, i would like to play this video file on that pc, but as its not on the net i cant download that plugin ( or whatever it was) to play it.

So does anybody know can i just download that windows media player plugin on its own from my net enabled pc, put it on a memory stick and transfer it over to my non net enabled pc, if this is possible does anybody know what that plugin was, where can i get it and how i would install it to intergrate with Windows media player on my non net pc.

Im using Widows XP

the reason i need an answer within 7 days, is that this video file will stop working in 7 days (as stated on the BBC Iplayer site.

Thanks all.

[jagabo]

The video is DRM protected and encrypted so you need to use a player that supports that DRM and can decrypt the file. VLC doesn't have that ability.

Without an internet connection you cannot play the file because the player has to get permission from the BBC when it plays the file. That's how it knows the video is expired in 7 days. And that's why WMP had to download some software before it could play the file.

You might be able to use FairUse4WM to decrypt the file.

[talx]

Jagabo. thanks for that, any chance you can tell me how to use Fairuse4wm i went to the site but really did not understand.

Would i install it on my non net pc and open the BBC Iplayer video file in Fairuse4wm and then it converts it so i can play it on my non net pc, sorry for my ignorence, and thank again.

Just went to a site that explains how to use this app' it seems you have got to uninstall Windows media player, then install it again, remove some upgrades and hotfixes, i stopped reading then, it seems a lot of effort to just watch a 60min tv programe on another pc, i'll just have to watch it on my slow pc and put up with the jerkyness

[DB83]

And it is not guaranteed to work. The BBC altered their DRM some months ago to circumvent the various work-arounds that were being touted.

7 days ?. I have not downloaded a show from i-player for ages - usually watch live and, if I want it, save it by other means which will not need to involve DRM (i.e screen capture) - but when I did you were allowed to keep the show for 28 days before it expired. The 7 days then only applied to the availability of the show on the i-player site.

[jman98]

taix - You are right. It's a lot of work. And it still may not work. Fairuse4wm was written some years ago when WM used a complete different DRM scheme than they do now. For all I know the BBC may be using something based on Silverlight now and the only way I know of that it's possible to remove DRM from Silverlight protected files is to use a streaming media recorder. Silverlight is a Microsoft technology by the way.

If you look on the internet you can often find BBC programs on Bit Torrent. Those will not have DRM. It's unfortunate to have to resort to that, but since the BBC doesn't (and maybe legally cannot) make downloads available for purchase, people who live outside of the UK have no choice but to turn to that.

[lordsmurf]

Just curious -- what was it?
The new Doctor Who episode, maybe?

[jagabo]

That was my first thought!

[bat999]

...

[mL999]

As you are in the uk you can downlad a programme and play it at your convenience . It should keep for 30 days . Explore the iplayer site to find out how to do it . Here is a quote from the site ----- " To download regular and HD programmes to your computer you must first install BBC iPlayer Desktop. Furtlher information can be found on Using BBC iPlayer for Windows, Macintosh OS and Linux support this. " ----- I have never needed to try this but I did once test a screen capture application ( can't remember which one ) successfully . mikeL

[mL999]

Now I have tried the ' iPlayer Desktop ' and the ' get-iplayer ' . ( fairly high spec computer , 10 Mhz cable internet ) . Both worked fine and played smoothly . The ' get-iplayer ' installed the video lan ( VLC ) player . I let it do so although it was in already . I think that if you have a slow internet connection you should always download the whole programme before you play it . Then there should be no waiting during playback .

[talx]

How did you know, yes it was the Dr Who Christmas special, spooky, for some reason my freeview plus box only recorded the last 13mins and what i cant understand the info in the library of the freeview box said it started recording at the correct time, but it recorded the LAST 13 mins strange, they repeated this on BBC3 the next day but i had not checked the recording then,

Anyway i connected my pc up to my tv playd Dr Who in Windows media player, and it was not that jerky, so all is well, but thanks for all your comments, i did learn new stuff, and very informative.

Hope you all had a good Christmas, and wishing you a happy new year.

Thank again all.