Ubuntu

ubuntu 20.04 Lts wont play video content of news media e.g. BBC News

Asked by Peter Jordan

following a failed software upgrade from 18.04 to 20.04 I carried out a fresh install of 20.04 LTS from a USB stick to my PC. Everything seemed okay until I loaded BBC news. All screens displayed as normal but if a video news item is selected I get error messages "this video is not working try again later." I have since re created a brand new installation of 20.04 on a USB stick and if I run this without installing on my PC the same problem persists. Have been into Firefox developer settings and get spurrious and confusing error messages. Some say codecs are missing some say video blocked by security settings. Despite changing the security settings nothing changes. I a m surprised as to how codecs can be missing on a complete fresh install. I have repeated the download and install to the stick twice and the same fault persists.
Have tried sudo apt-update to see if anything additional was missing but nothing extra loads.
How do I fix this anomaly?

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Manfred Hampl
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

What browsers have you tried?

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#2

"I am surprised as to how codecs can be missing on a complete fresh install."
Of course there can be missing codecs after a new installation, because by default not everything available is automatically installed.

You might try installing the package ubuntu-restricted-extras in addition to what you already have.

Revision history for this message
Peter Jordan (barule) said : 		#3

On 03/11/2020 7:31 am, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #693792 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/693792
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> What browsers have you tried?
>
 As I only use Ubuntu on my main PC the browser is Firefox which comes
pre installed with the installation ISO. That's why I am puzzled that it
does not play video but everything else in Firefox is working fine. if i
had needed additional software surely this would download during
installation it allways has before on previous upgrades. Firefox syncs
to my laptop running MInt thats perfectly okay also using Firefox
Browser. I also have TAILS on usb sticks that also runs fine but uses
TOR browser a variant of Firefox browser.

Revision history for this message
Peter Jordan (barule) said : 		#4

On 03/11/2020 7:31 am, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #693792 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/693792
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> What browsers have you tried?
>
 Have installed TOR Browser on the main pc as a test. The same problem
occurs. so it suggests the problem is not in the Browser but in my
installation of 20.04 .

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Tor is a firefox basic. Is chrome OK?

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#6

You could try installing and running chromium-browser

Revision history for this message
Peter Jordan (barule) said : 		#7

On 04/11/2020 6:30 pm, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #693792 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/693792
>
> Status: Needs information => Answered
>
> Manfred Hampl proposed the following answer:
> You could try installing and running chromium-browser
>
 Hi Manfred,

Thanks for the comments,

I have installed Chromium-Browser and it works, which overcomes the
immediate problem, but I have always used Firefox and really need to try
and fix it.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#8

Have you already installed the ubuntu-restricted-extras package?

Revision history for this message
Peter Jordan (barule) said : 		#9

On 09/11/2020 8:01 am, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #693792 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/693792
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> Have you already installed the ubuntu-restricted-extras package?
>
 Hi Manfred,

Just done it and it has solved the problem. Many thanks for your help

Revision history for this message
Best Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#10

The recommendation to install the ubuntu-restricted-extras package was already given in comment #2.

In any case, if the problem has been resolved, then please mark the question as solved.

Revision history for this message
Peter Jordan (barule) said : 		#11

Thanks Manfred Hampl, that solved my question.