Thanks for all your help! I have to say that I learned quite a bit. I'll try the Mandriva forum itself. If I get any luck, I'll head back here with an update.

Cheers for sticking with me.

You're welcome...

Latest feedback: same problem using Arch!!! So, it's looking like it's nothing to do with linux and plugins - something to do with the way the BBC content is served. I notice (because all the servers being contacted repeat over and over again) that part of the server stream comes from a server managed by a company in the US called Akaimi - they seem to do management of systems for other companies. maybe that's where the problem lies but how to figure it out because the BBC aren't linux friendly will be a problem.

Why it should work on Windows but not linux is a real problem. Going to use an url snooper to see what the exact server stream is.

Cheers

Damn, I thought I already replied to that weeks ago...

The BBC videos all work for me if I choose "Windows Media player" in the options, I suggest you try that.
I've had my share of trouble with real media, too. But I don't blame anyone outside Apple for that.

oskar! it makes NO difference whichever I choose - Windows choice just loads the urls in an infinite loop. Real loads urls and tells me I need to install RealPlayer 10. Setting mplayer to emulate Real makes no difference. It's only the high quality stream which fails.

Maybe a recent update to mplayer-plugin fixed this. Since you ran Arch from a pre-made VMWare application, it is likely out of date, Arch is constantly updating.

okay - fair point! What does updating mplayer entail in Arch? Is there a package manager - or will it involve the command line? If latter, I'll need some help!

I just ran Arch and went straight to ff and tried the plugin - didn't investigate beyond that. The vmware notes state that windows codecs are installed.

The Arch package manager is simple:
Should update mplayer, the plugin and the codecs, if everything in the image is setup properly.

elliott678: updated successfully - well, no error messages.

Still doesn't work - although slight change in behaviour - one url stream just reports playing ad infinitum.

Makes no difference is I try WMP or Real stream.

Standalone just loads url then reports stopped.

New effect - no video plays at lo stream quality.

What next?

Here's the list of urls which the Windows Media Player uses to play the BBC clip:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/s...x?ad=1&ct=
mms://a79.v422986.c42298.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/79/42298/1.0/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/media_acl/mps/fix/news/world/video/102000/bb/102540_16x9_bb.wmv
mms://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv
rtsp://a1161.v44407d.c44407.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1161/44407/v0001/bbcworld2.download.akamai.com/38233/videi/commercial/Delta_Airlines_Sanctuary.wmv?wmcache=0
rtsp://a79.v422986.c42298.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/79/42298/1.0/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/media_acl/mps/fix/news/world/video/102000/bb/102540_16x9_bb.wmv
rtsp://a79.v422986.c42298.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/79/42298/1.0/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/media_acl/mps/fix/news/world/video/102000/bb/102540_16x9_bb.wmv,12,@
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/rtx
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/audio
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/video
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/audio;seq=61898;rtptime=0
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/video;seq=6135;rtptime=0
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/audio;Seq=62959
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv/video;Seq=6135
rtsp://a1482.v373745.c37374.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1482/37374/4762fbc6/clipdownloads.bbc.co.uk/windowsmedia-acl/news/n5ctrl/summaries/world/bb/video/world_bb.wmv,12,@

What does this tell us, if anything, to help sleuth the problem?

I'm depending on you guys!

castalla2007, after you've tried several distros and come to the same conclusion with the BBC website using the mplayer/mplayer-plugin with infinite loops and stopped connections, and weather you select windows media or realone isn't it possible something is wrong at your end. It could be location, your ISP provider or the information your browser is sending to connect to the BBC server or whatsoever.

I am able to play both formats from the BBC website, including the One-Minute World News link you requested me to try.

oskar and elliott678 can also play videos as well. There has to be some unknown reason why you get the same results after trying several distros.

I agree there are some websites that are not linux friendly because they use certain protocals or functions that is understood by internet explorer.

I don't think the BBC website has nothing against linux OS's. If so, oskar, elliott678 and I would also be affected. Unfortunately, it is not affecting us and we can play the videos. Why you can't, is a mystery.


Could it be the way linux vituual appliance's are setup or configured by the developer or user.

- later

Appreciate your input! Well, if I go to streamick.com (which has an embedded player) this site DOES play the NBC stream as windows media file!

I'm sure you can appreciate my confusion over this! And it can't be an ISP problem because the BBC stream plays okay in windows.

I suppose it could be something to do with vmware - but then why does streamick work?

I'm going to try installing RealPlayer in Mandriva to see what happens.
I'll return here to give any feedback.

As they say in Yorkshire, UK ... Eeeeeh, a'm proper stumped!

Like I said, it's a mystery why mplayer is being finicky about certain websites. So far, I've been lucky, the mplayer plugin as been able to play the videos and audio from websites I visited. As big as the internet is, who knows, maybe one day I might run into a website where my mplayer will give me the same problem you're having now.

- later

Maybe I should start a thread about the BBC. A listing of what distros and locations can actually get the stream at high quality.

both you and elliott are in the US. I'm in Spain using Orange ISP.

Well, no I can't play the high resolution videos either.