BBC iPlayer > convert to avi/mp4?

[fourcolourblack]

I've for the first time ever downloaded something rather than streamed it from iPlayer. Obviously its designed to work only in the desktop iPlayer, and expires after 30 days.

I've tried all the obvious solution like Handbrake, Visual Hub, DivX. And there seems to be tons of links straight out of google one "how to convert you iPlayer files (just mp4's btw) but none of these work.

Has anyone successfully done this yet?

I've got a show I really want to keep as its about my home town and it'll never be on again!

thanks

[warwicks501]

Have you tried 'BBC iPlayer Downloader'? This allows you to download most of the TV and radio programmes found on the BBC's iPlayer. Once downloaded, you simply drag to iTunes and hey presto your programme is saved. You can then also download to your iphone or ipod. ;)

[Luke Redpath]

http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/ is not longer maintained but might still work.

[The General]

It expires in 30 days? That means it's DRM'd and needs to be decrypted before you can transcode it.

[LostLogik]

I've for the first time ever downloaded something rather than streamed it from iPlayer. Obviously its designed to work only in the desktop iPlayer, and expires after 30 days.

Has anyone successfully done this yet?


thanks

Yes. (Without going into the legal issue) What you need is the great programs from Applian Technology (-ies?), Replay Media Catcher and Replay converter.

As they are Windoze only, and I'm Mac based, I run them under Parallels. But essentially you run the first to catch the media playing, which saves it as .flv and then the second to convert to mp4. It has some nice inbuilt presets to facilitate importing into iTunes as well. A handy set of tools.

[The Phazer]

Bypassing the DRM is illegal, and distribution of tools to do so is a criminal offense in the UK.

Phazer

[LostLogik]

Bypassing the DRM is illegal, and distribution of tools to do so is a criminal offense in the UK.

Phazer

Yawn. Such a blinkered view.

Actually what the Applian products do is catches/records the media as it plays and doesn't bypass any DRM. It works in the same way as a VCR. The original file isn't touched, & no DRM touched.

The BBC licence fee should be abolished, and the corporation made to pay its way.

[ss957916]

Yawn. Such a blinkered view.

Actually what the Applian products do is catches/records the media as it plays and doesn't bypass any DRM. It works in the same way as a VCR. The original file isn't touched, & no DRM touched.

Actually, UK law states that, even with a VCR, the user should (but I'm sure never does!) destroy the recording after 14 days. So, although you could argue that the process doesn't strip the DRM, it is still illegal to keep it longer than two weeks (or share it/broadcast it/edit it etc. etc.).

[The Phazer]

Actually what the Applian products do is catches/records the media as it plays and doesn't bypass any DRM. It works in the same way as a VCR. The original file isn't touched, & no DRM touched.

That is bypassing the DRM under British law, and even if it wasn't that's creation of an unlawful copy.

The BBC licence fee should be abolished, and the corporation made to pay its way.

Completely irrelevant to this discussion, since the same would apply to any DRM protected video.

Actually, UK law states that, even with a VCR, the user should (but I'm sure never does!) destroy the recording after 14 days. So, although you could argue that the process doesn't strip the DRM, it is still illegal to keep it longer than two weeks (or share it/broadcast it/edit it etc. etc.).

It would actually be unlawful period, as you're only allowed to use recording equipment to timeshift an item you've sourced from a broadcast under UK law. It's unlawful to record on-demand programming (even if broadcast elsewhere) at all, since by being on demand it's already effectively been timeshifted.

Phazer

[LostLogik]

Completely irrelevant to this discussion, since the same would apply to any DRM protected video.

Phazer

Oh agreed. But I saw your Twitter Twibbon and thought I'd just express my view about the corporation and its effective tax on the public for owning a TV. But accepted it was irrelevant to the thread, hence smaller type.

Copyright legislation sucks but the current "secret" proposals are worse.

[fourcolourblack]

I've opened up quite a can of worms here haven't I? At the end of the day, this is hardly different to when we all used to tape things. Either from the radio, or tele. Just the technology has moved forward.

Thanks for the earlier responses, unfortunately I don't have a copy of Windows or Parallels. I've been here before with trying to update my old Nokia, ended up at a friends house.

I think I might just ave to give up on this one.

Oh, iPlayer Grabber works brilliantly though, unfortunately the programme I wanted has now expired haha. Damn, if only I'd been earlier.

[Lara F]

Try getting registered on UKNova and making a request...maybe you'll get lucky and have someone upload it.

[mooblie]

Have you tried 'BBC iPlayer Downloader'? This allows you to download most of the TV and radio programmes found on the BBC's iPlayer. Once downloaded, you simply drag to iTunes and hey presto your programme is saved.

Have you actually tried this? I did, and (as expected) it didn't work for me.

[alcabs]

Sorry, came across this and had to jump in.

I've been using IPlayer Downloader for the last few weeks and it works just fine. It does help if you get it from the right website though and not some dodgy Russian site! Try this link for the latest version -

http://www.limaromeo.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/

Also the developers website is here -

http://www.mathcampbell.co.uk/

Simple to use. Only problem I have seen with it is occasionally it will complete a download and the file will, for some unknown reason, be unplayable. Just downloading again usually gets you a good file. :D

This is the only solution I have found that works to get round the DRM issue with BBC Iplayer. I suggest you guys that could not get it to work try a bit harder. It's a piece of p*ss!

Cheers.