yt-dlp/yt-dlp · error · ExtractorError

traverse_obj(smil, (f'{ns}ref/@abstract', ..., any))

Error message

traverse_obj(smil, (f'{ns}ref/@abstract', ..., any))

What it means

Thrown by NBCUniversalBaseIE._download_nbcu_smil_and_extract_m3u8_url (yt_dlp/extractor/nbc.py:60) when thePlatform SMIL manifest (link.theplatform.com/s/<tp_path>?...&format=SMIL&manifest=m3u&switch=HLSServiceSecure) contains no m3u8 video/@src. The exception MESSAGE is read out of the SMIL document itself - the ref element's @abstract attribute - so it carries thePlatform's own fault text (expiry notice, rights error, etc.). It is flagged expected only when the SMIL's exception param equals 'Expired'.

Source

Thrown at yt_dlp/extractor/nbc.py:60

    def _download_nbcu_smil_and_extract_m3u8_url(self, tp_path, video_id, query):
        smil = self._download_xml(
            f'https://link.theplatform.com/s/{tp_path}', video_id,
            'Downloading SMIL manifest', 'Failed to download SMIL manifest', query={
                **query,
                'format': 'SMIL',  # XXX: Do not confuse "format" with "formats"
                'manifest': 'm3u',
                'switch': 'HLSServiceSecure',  # Or else we get broken mp4 http URLs instead of HLS
            }, headers=self.geo_verification_headers())

        ns = f'//{{{default_ns}}}'
        if url := traverse_obj(smil, (f'{ns}video/@src', lambda _, v: determine_ext(v) == 'm3u8', any)):
            return url

        exc = traverse_obj(smil, (f'{ns}param', lambda _, v: v.get('name') == 'exception', '@value', any))
        if exc == 'GeoLocationBlocked':
            self.raise_geo_restricted(countries=self._GEO_COUNTRIES)
        raise ExtractorError(traverse_obj(smil, (f'{ns}ref/@abstract', ..., any)), expected=exc == 'Expired')

    def _extract_nbcu_formats_and_subtitles(self, tp_path, video_id, query):
        # formats='mpeg4' will return either a working m3u8 URL or an m3u8 template for non-DRM HLS
        # formats='m3u+none,mpeg4' may return DRM HLS but w/the "folders" needed for non-DRM template
        query['formats'] = 'm3u+none,mpeg4'
        orig_m3u8_url = m3u8_url = self._download_nbcu_smil_and_extract_m3u8_url(tp_path, video_id, query)

        if mobj := re.fullmatch(self._M3U8_RE, m3u8_url):
            query['formats'] = 'mpeg4'
            m3u8_tmpl = self._download_nbcu_smil_and_extract_m3u8_url(tp_path, video_id, query)
            # Example: https://vod-lf-oneapp-prd.akamaized.net/prod/video/{folders}master_hls.m3u8
            if '{folders}' in m3u8_tmpl:
                self.write_debug('Found m3u8 URL template, formatting URL path')
            m3u8_url = m3u8_tmpl.format(folders=mobj.group('folders'))

        if '/mpeg_cenc' in m3u8_url or '/mpeg_cbcs' in m3u8_url:
            self.report_drm(video_id)

View on GitHub (pinned to 81ecd58b13)

Solutions

1. Read the text in the error message - it is the provider's own reason (expired, rights removed, geo)
2. Update yt-dlp nightly; theplatform token handling is patched frequently
3. If it is geo-related, retry from a US IP: --proxy (and see --geo-verification-proxy)
4. Fetch the video page fresh so yt-dlp generates current theplatform tokens instead of reusing an old link
5. If the asset is DRM-only there is nothing yt-dlp can download

from yt_dlp.utils import ExtractorError, GeoRestrictedError
try:
    info = ydl.extract_info(url, download=False)
except GeoRestrictedError:
    log.info('geo-blocked; retry via US proxy')
except ExtractorError as e:
    if e.expected and 'expired' in str(e).lower():
        refresh_page_tokens(url)  # re-fetch the NBC page for new theplatform tokens
    else:
        raise  # message text comes from the SMIL @abstract: read it

When it happens

Trigger: The SMIL GET returns a fault document instead of a playable manifest: expired theplatform auth token (exception 'Expired'), deleted/expired media, DRM-only asset with no HLS rendition, or a geo fault (GeoLocationBlocked is converted to raise_geo_restricted just above this line).

Common situations: Reusing stale mxplayer/theplatform tokenized URLs copied from old pages or caches; NBC/NBC Sports content removed after the broadcast window; non-US IPs receiving geo-fault SMILs; premium DRM streams.

Related errors

• No video metadata found in webpage
• The channel is not currently live
• Unsafe placeholder for exec command: {na!r} The --output-na-
• Unsafe default(s) in exec command: {outtmpl!r} Conversions a
• Invalid syntax in Cookie Header

AI-assisted analysis of yt-dlp/yt-dlp@81ecd58b13 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/014b411260f00b70. Report an issue: GitHub.