Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Hello, I'm about to show you two screenshots below, shown at the bottom of this message. The top screenshot of the two images below represents the old (and current platform for most) ESPN streams. The bottom screenshot represents what ESPN is doing for some of their new streams, and all of their SEC streams for SEC+ sports programs live and on demand.

We already know how to download the old (current) method, for most WatchESPN videos (RTMP Dump Helper works, as does Replay Media Catcher). However, the 2nd of the two screenshots below, does not work for either RTMP Dump Helper or Replay Media Cather, at least it doesn't work when using the same procedure (maybe a different procedure will work?). Notice the difference between the two screenshots below. One has 4 bars, the other has 7 bars of quality. Several of the newer videos and the SEC+ videos on demand have 7 bars of quality and seem to be impossible to catch the stream and download it. But maybe someone can help. I'm not interested in recording off the screen (I already have Replay Video Capture, but prefer not to use that for ESPN streams, as I like catching and downloading the stream much better).

Take this video link from below for example (if you have WatchESPN, please feel free to check on this yourself) ....

Here's the link to an example of an ESPN3 video that can't be downloaded?:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2569576/

Notice how after clicking on that link above, there are now 7 bars of quality, instead of 4 bars. Now, I know a lot of the current ESPN3 (WatchESPN) videos still use 4 bars of quality. But I have a feeling that these new videos with 7 bars of quality will be the standard going forward at some point. That means it's possible for those out there (including myself) that download videos from ESPN3, well we might no longer be able to do so in the near future, unless we can crack this code for the 7 bar ones. So far, I've had no luck with these newer ESPN3 videos, which also include all the SEC (SEC+) videos. Can anyone help? Thanks.


Please reference the "blue" circle that is manually added to both screenshots below (it is hard to see at first), but you can see in the 2nd screenshot that there are 7 potential bars of quality in the blue circle. I don't even know if the quality is different, but the WatchESPN videos in which there are 7 bars of quality seem to be encrypted differently than the traditional 4 bar videos, and so far the 7 bar ones seem to be impossible to download. Maybe there's a way to download it going the m3u8 file route?

I have never failed to be able to catch and download the 4 bar ones. But I have never succeeded yet in getting any of the 7 bar ones. As always, please feel free to help. Thanks.


4 bars of Quality:




7 bars of Quality:



*Link* to 7 bars of Quality (example):
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2569576/

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

i can't zoom in to make the images bigger to see what you're referring to.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

I'm able to grab the 720p stream without issue...with livestreamer and the m3u8.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Thanks slim94.
Where do I copy and paste this code at?
I tried it in command prompt after downloading livestreamer, and it didn't work.

Code:
livestreamer "hlsvariant://http://content.uplynk.com/ext/d09b16c
953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a/a18313959.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7bfce28eefcc1cdd 5b95
c3b663&exp=1433942138&rn=276675129&tc=1&oid=d09b16 c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a&lin
earv=4&ad=secplus&ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=watchespn:null :secplus&ad.caid=a18313959&eid
=a18313959&euid=SEC_VDMS&ct=a&sig=0571c900f014c906 255f0e9321f4059922cf4017c13132
60627d80ac206d028a" best -o espn.mp4
[cli][info] Found matching plugin stream for URL hlsvariant://http://content.upl
ynk.com/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a/a18313959.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7
bfce28eefcc1cdd5b95c3b663&exp=1433942138&rn=276675 129&tc=1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98
dd8c513526aca5a&linearv=4&ad=secplus&ad.ulbd=1&ad. csid=watchespn:null:secplus&ad
.caid=a18313959&eid=a18313959&euid=SEC_VDMS&ct=a&s ig=0571c900f014c906255f0e9321f
4059922cf4017c1313260627d80ac206d028a
[cli][info] Available streams: 180p (worst), 288p, 432p, 504p, 720p (best)
[cli][info] Opening stream: 720p (hls)

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Likely because the stream expired by the time you got to it. You'll need to sniff out the m3u8 yourself and try it

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Thanks. I must not be doing something right with Command Prompt.
I am able to sniff a new m3u8 source file, using Replay Media Catcher. Here's the new source code:



New Source Code:
http://content-ause2.uplynk.com/148e...8c0 2ef91367e



Here's what I attempted to type (exactly as verbatim) in Command Prompt:



Here's the output I get in Command Prompt after typing/pasting that code:




Here's the error from the output I get (circled in red below):

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

you need to update your Livestreamer software

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

I still can't get this to work for any of the WatchESPN (ESPN3) videos that are in this format. VLC is my default media player, and it isn't opening.

I am able to plug in the m3u8 file code within the proper code in command prompt, and it says available streams, up to 720p, and even says opening the 720p stream, but then it doesn't open and gives me an error that says failed to create decryptor (see image below).






WatchESPN Link:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2602908/

m3u8 code:
http://content.uplynk.com/ext/d09b16...767f3eb5eb6745

Code in command prompt:
livestreamer "hlsvariant://http://content.uplynk.com/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a/a18444787.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,&exp=1436671113&rn=632 372656&tc=1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a&l inearv=4&ad=e3ads&ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=watchespn:null :e3ads&ad.caid=a18444787&eid=a18444787&euid=ESPN3_ VDMS&ct=a&sig=846a0f449e65ee3321dddf9500643c6458a8 b314f4cc4315e5767f3eb5eb6745" best -o espn.mp4

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

i think this cookie is involved:

EDIT: no worry about cookie, answer below in next post

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

when sniffing the url, use "must contain" field to get a fast view of when the proper url/code shows up and close the browser player window the instant the code shows up, do not let browser keep playing video. Looks like this in URLsnooper:



then, as fast as you can (less than 10 seconds ideally) do livestreamer (red is exact copy/paste from urlsnooper above):

you will see this:



then open with video player like this:

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Thanks for your help.

I feel like I'm so close to getting it, but I'm getting an error at the very end of the process. Any idea what this error could be? It says permission denied (please see screenshot below). Thanks.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

I just ran command prompt as administrator, and I think it might be working now. Check out the screenshot below, as it looks like it's currently downloading. But when it's finished, where is the downloaded file at? Where can I access it, and can I always have it saved as a file on my hard drive? (or does it just open in VLC player, but not saved on the hard drive?) Thanks again for your help.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

yes, it is saved to your drive as "espn.mp4"...search for it in your windows search box

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Yeah I found it. The download is complete.
It's in my livestreamer folder, and I can move it around to any folder I like.
However, it only plays in SM Player, and doesn't play at all in VLC player, and you can only fast-forward it 10 seconds at a time, because the video player doesn't recognize how long the video is (even though the download has complete 100% in command prompt). I've circled the bottom-right of the screenshot below.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

next time save file as "name.ts" instead of "name.mp4"

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Oh yeah, that's a great point.
That's how I used to do it when using ffmpeg.
Thanks for your help.

Looks like ESPN making more changes

 

I noticed today two separate videos browsers for replays of college football games--different number of video quality bars--see below screen captures--not sure what this may mean:

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Here is the 8 block version

Re: Looks like ESPN making more changes

 

did you try download?

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

:( No--I was at the beginning of the process--downloading livestreamer, URL Snooper, following the examples from the other posters. I was going to post my screen captures, but can't for some strange reason. Once I get that figured out, will post my findings so I can attempt to capture via livestreamer--I have captured other games so far this season using Replay Video Capture, with mixed success.

Made several attempts to capture a stream:

 

1.) Downloaded livestreamer
2.) Downloaded URL Snooper
3.) Manually entered http://content.uplynk in the “Must Contain” field in URL Snooper
4.) Played the video—stopped the video immediately when the URL Snooper collected the various URLs.
5.) Manually wrote the code: livestreamer “hlsvariant:// followed by the URL and ending with best -o espn.mp4
I created the code using the example in the entry #10 in the forum
Received the following errors—see attached

Re: Made several attempts to capture a stream:

 

which event replay is this? so i can replicate

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Sorry about that--still scratching the surface and will make some errors due to inexperience.

Fairly certain the stream is probably the 2015 LSU vs Mississippi State game or the 2015 Alabama vs Middle Tennessee State game.

Thanks for looking into this--I have a weird feeling I'm doing something wrong or did something wrong when I downloaded livestreamer. Also, how (aside from looking at earlier posts in this thread) do we know or determine which particular entry in URL Snooper to use for the URL section when we create the code in livestreamer?

Thanks

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

ok here is LSU v MSU

something looks wrong with your m3u8 code, see how yours is different than this one {looks like you grabbed line 423 in your urlsnooper image when you should have grabbed line 430}:

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Thanks Joe--I see the error and difference between the 2 lines (423 and 430) in URL Snooper.

I take it when we are creating the code, we use the URL for the line that identifies as m3u8 file in the Protocol Column in URL Snooper?

Will try again the morning--will let you know and thanks for the help.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Had more bad luck--before I go on, I appreciate your help with this:

Game: 2015 LSU vs Mississippi State

WatchESPN link: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/...ize/condensed/

I created the code using Notepad--I was using Word, but don't know if this makes a difference.

Received a number of errors—see below

In URL Snooper I only received one entry for an m3u8--line 000050, protocol starts with whttp I don't know if this is one of the problems.

Browser--notice the 6 bars of video quality


URL Snooper:


CMD Prompt results:

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

do same, but erase the 'w' at start of url and it will work

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Thanks Joe--
I have to leave very shortly--so will try later and will continue with the same LSU @ Miss State game until I get it. I tried another game last night (Oregon @ Mich St) and I got URLs that began with xhttp or phttp--if I see something like that should I remove those characters as well?

Also, I make my code in notepad using the protocol below (I was afraid MS powerpoint or word might have put in some unseen character or changed something).

Should I continue using notepad for this or is their a better or faster method?

My protocol I'm following is:
Instructions:
1.) Bring up your video you want to capture
2.) Bring up URL Snooper
3.) Ensure the Must Contain field in URL Snooper states http://content.uplynk
4.) Play the video—stop the video (close the viewer browser window) immediately when the URL Snooper collected the various URLs.
5.) Bring up livestreamer in the CMD prompt
6.) Create and enter the code:
livestreamer “hlsvariant://enter the URL from URL Snooper here” best –o name.ts
Remember:
--No space between the //and the URL
--End the URL with “
--Go over one space and best –o name.ts (could be lsu, vatech, etc—some term you can remember or find easily)
--For the URL, ensure you enter the URL that in the Protocol column, states:
http m3u8 file
(remove the x, p, or w in front of http should their be one)

Anyway, thanks again Joe--really appreciate your help. Will try again later and keep you all posted. if you see anything else I'm forgetting or doing incorrectly, please don't hesitate to correct me.

Thanks

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

looks good, just swap 1 & 2, open snooper first, then your video

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Still having problems--

Game: LSU @ Mississippi State
WatchESPN link: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/...ize/condensed/



Remarks 6 video quality bars still. Ensured I opened URL Snooper first, then video. Tried three separate code entries from URL Snooper
Highlighted TypeError in CMD Prompt--could this be causing the problem and what does it mean? Is there some way I should convert my code text to unicode?

Code:


Tried entering URLs from three separate lines: line 000188--removed the x, line 000191, and 000196--removed the p.
Same errors--see below CMD prompt image:

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

ronlin99,
I think your issue is the code you're using. The quote and -o in particular. Paste the correct url within here remove the character in front of http if needed, and try again. I tried and copied your code string from your post yesterday and it gave me those errors for a different game. SO i re-wrote the line and the quotes and -o were the issue.

Give it a try.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Thanks--will try in a few moments. DUMB QUESTION: In the code string you provided, and I post the URL between the second/ and the quotation mark just before best?

Is it okay to create this code in notepad? I was/am beginning to wonder if I've got some form of methodology problem (using the wrong application, operating system, etc, etc.).

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

IT'S WORKING!!!!!!!

1.) Copied your code into notepad, re-ran the entire protocol again 2.) Brought up URL Snooper
3.) Brought up watchespn, then the game
4.) Copied the URL into your code in Notepad (had to remove the "x")
5.) Please see CMD Prompt image of this run:

6.) It's still capturing the stream as I write this, how long does this normally take (not that matters--just curious) or how will I know when it's done?

Question(s):
Where does the Livestreamer post this file when it's finished?
If I wanted to convert, or make a copy of this file at 480p (so I can write to DVD to watch on TV), how would I do that?

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Will put the file where ever you opened the cmd prompt from. In your screen shot it will be in C:\Users\Owner\

As far as converting to DVD, yes you could. What app you have to use is up to you, but it is possible no doubt.

It will say stream ended when it is finished. May turn out to be about 5-6 GB's, and at your speed in the screenshot will take a while.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Looks like this particular file will run about 1hr 30-35min to download based on the speed in the CMD Prompt and given the length of the file.

Sorry about the location question--I looked at the remainder of this thread and seems pretty simple. If I run into a problem, will seach via the Start/search button.

I have the Replay Capture Suite and 123copydvd Platinum-I like them both. For downconverting to 480p, I would probably use 123copydvd's Extract a Video Clip feature, and change the output widescreen size to 854 x 480 and hopefully that should do it. I already tried this with another 30min video and will write to disc and attempt to play on my DVD recorder/player.

I really appreciate the help from both you and joejones15 on this thread--it is getting more and more difficult just to make a disc copy of a game for personal use and posterity.
I will send screen captures of things that pop up that other DB members may need to know as I'm sure the game and other entertainment stakeholders will continue to make changes in the future.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

That is normal based on the slow speed at which you are able to download the file. It is probably done soon. The line will end in cmd prompt and say "stream ended" or something like that. I forget off hand.

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Just finished:


Cmd prompt will state stream ended like you stated--came in at 5.21 GBs. Your response was right on the money!!!

In other news, that method I described for down-converting via 123copydvd Extract Video Clip feature worked perfectly. Changed the Widescreen Resolution to 854x480. Will need to adjust the Video Bitrate setting, but the video wrote to dvd and played on my dvd player without problem.

Thanks for the help

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Hey, y'all.

I'm attempting the steps above and receive the error "(400 Client Error: Bad Request)"

I tried two things; hlsvariant and hls. Please see results below. Would appreciate your input. Thank you.

(hlsvariant)

C:\espn>livestreamer "hlsvariant://http://content.uplynk.com/ext/d09b16c953aa40c
98dd8c513526aca5a/a18564946.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7bfce28eefcc1cdd 5b95c3b663&e
xp=1442797877&rn=410088402&tc=1&oid=d09b16c953aa40 c98dd8c513526aca5a&linearv=4&a
d=e3ads&ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=watchespn:null:e3ads&ad. caid=a18564946&eid=a18564946&e
uid=ESPN3_VDMS&ct=a&sig=2ad2dbfae72ef09e93ff2c30b6 baea9e9a9e94bafe31cd0bf679b743
5b247484" best -o name.ts
[cli][info] Found matching plugin stream for URL hlsvariant://http://content.upl
ynk.com/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a/a18564946.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7
bfce28eefcc1cdd5b95c3b663&exp=1442797877&rn=410088 402&tc=1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98
dd8c513526aca5a&linearv=4&ad=e3ads&ad.ulbd=1&ad.cs id=watchespn:null:e3ads&ad.cai
d=a18564946&eid=a18564946&euid=ESPN3_VDMS&ct=a&sig =2ad2dbfae72ef09e93ff2c30b6bae
a9e9a9e94bafe31cd0bf679b7435b247484
error: Unable to open URL: http://content.uplynk.com/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c51
3526aca5a/a18564946.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7bfce28eefcc1cdd 5b95c3b663&exp=14427
97877&rn=410088402&tc=1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c5 13526aca5a&linearv=4&ad=e3ads&
ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=watchespn:null:e3ads&ad.caid=a18 564946&eid=a18564946&euid=ESPN
3_VDMS&ct=a&sig=2ad2dbfae72ef09e93ff2c30b6baea9e9a 9e94bafe31cd0bf679b7435b247484
(400 Client Error: Bad Request)


(hls)

C:\espn>livestreamer "hls://http://content.uplynk.com/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c5
13526aca5a/a18564946.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7bfce28eefcc1cdd 5b95c3b663&exp=1442
797877&rn=410088402&tc=1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c 513526aca5a&linearv=4&ad=e3ads
&ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=watchespn:null:e3ads&ad.caid=a1 8564946&eid=a18564946&euid=ESP
N3_VDMS&ct=a&sig=2ad2dbfae72ef09e93ff2c30b6baea9e9 a9e94bafe31cd0bf679b7435b24748
4" worst -o name.ts
[cli][info] Found matching plugin stream for URL hls://http://content.uplynk.com
/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a/a18564946.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7bfce28e
efcc1cdd5b95c3b663&exp=1442797877&rn=410088402&tc= 1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513
526aca5a&linearv=4&ad=e3ads&ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=watc hespn:null:e3ads&ad.caid=a1856
4946&eid=a18564946&euid=ESPN3_VDMS&ct=a&sig=2ad2db fae72ef09e93ff2c30b6baea9e9a9e
94bafe31cd0bf679b7435b247484
[cli][info] Available streams: live (worst, best)
[cli][info] Opening stream: live (hls)
[cli][error] Could not open stream: Unable to open URL: http://content.uplynk.co
m/ext/d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c513526aca5a/a18564946.m3u8?ad.kv=_fw_ae,d8b58f7bfce28
eefcc1cdd5b95c3b663&exp=1442797877&rn=410088402&tc =1&oid=d09b16c953aa40c98dd8c51
3526aca5a&linearv=4&ad=e3ads&ad.ulbd=1&ad.csid=wat chespn:null:e3ads&ad.caid=a185
64946&eid=a18564946&euid=ESPN3_VDMS&ct=a&sig=2ad2d bfae72ef09e93ff2c30b6baea9e9a9
e94bafe31cd0bf679b7435b247484 (400 Client Error: Bad Request)

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

If you replace 'best' with '432p' or '504p' you will get smaller bitrate without having to rencode yourself...look at your cmd line image, it tells you what bitrates are available:

Re: Anybody want to crack the new code of WatchESPN streams (with 7 bars of quality)?

 

Does anyone have a script that will login to watchespn (given comcast credentials) and spit out the appropriate m3u8 urls for each channel?