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Only can watch HLS stream when I stream it from VLC

https://forum.serviio.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=31194

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Only can watch HLS stream when I stream it from VLC

PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2026 5:45 pm
by jtm
I am trying to watch the following HLS stream on my old Sony Bravia TV from 2010: https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index.m3u8. If I put it directly in Serviio, I just get an error message on my TV. However, if I put it in VLC first, and then stream it to Serviio over an HTTP stream with MPEG-TS transcoding, it works just fine. I have tested this multiple times, so it is not just a coincidence. What is different about the VLC stream that makes it work on my TV?

After examining the output of ffmpeg -i, it's obvious to me that the reason why I can only get it to play when I do MPEG-TS transcoding is that my TV cannot play HLS or FLV formats. It can only play MPEG-TS format. This thread can be locked, or maybe it can be moved to the Bravia page on the Wiki? I spent months trying to figure this out before posting this.

Re: Only can watch HLS stream when I stream it from VLC

PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2026 3:35 am
by jtm
ffmpeg -i output:
  Code:
ffmpeg version 5.1.2 Copyright (c) 2000-2022 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 8.2.1 (GCC) 20180830
  configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libass --enable-librtmp --enable-fontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-zlib --enable-libx264 --enable-libspeex --enable-libaom --disable-encoder=libaom_av1 --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm -lexpat -lfreetype -lfribidi -lz' --arch=x86_64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --target-os=mingw64 --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --enable-gpl --pkg-config=pkg-config --bindir='/jenkins/workspace/FFmpeg - Win64/target'
  libavutil      57. 28.100 / 57. 28.100
  libavcodec     59. 37.100 / 59. 37.100
  libavformat    59. 27.100 / 59. 27.100
  libavdevice    59.  7.100 / 59.  7.100
  libavfilter     8. 44.100 /  8. 44.100
  libswscale      6.  7.100 /  6.  7.100
  libswresample   4.  7.100 /  4.  7.100
  libpostproc    56.  6.100 / 56.  6.100
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-VERSION:3')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-INDEPENDENT-SEGMENTS')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Can't support the subtitle(uri: index_captions.m3u8)
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_1080p.m3u8' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-VERSION:3')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-DISCONTINUITY-SEQUENCE:30')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_RATING:TV_US,0,Not%20rated')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_TITLE:')
[https @ 00000000025c8980] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_720p.m3u8' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-VERSION:3')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-DISCONTINUITY-SEQUENCE:30')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_RATING:TV_US,0,Not%20rated')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_TITLE:')
[https @ 00000000025c8980] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_432p.m3u8' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-VERSION:3')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-DISCONTINUITY-SEQUENCE:30')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_RATING:TV_US,0,Not%20rated')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_TITLE:')
[https @ 00000000025c8980] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_234p.m3u8' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-VERSION:3')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-DISCONTINUITY-SEQUENCE:30')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_RATING:TV_US,0,Not%20rated')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Skip ('#EXT-X-ELE_TITLE:')
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_1080p_20260507T032637_2401712.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_1080p_20260507T032641_2401713.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_720p_20260507T032637_2401712.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_720p_20260507T032641_2401713.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_432p_20260507T032637_2401712.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_432p_20260507T032641_2401713.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_234p_20260507T032637_2401712.ts' for reading
[hls @ 000000000272e240] Opening 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index_234p_20260507T032641_2401713.ts' for reading
Input #0, hls, from 'https://pbs.lls.cdn.pbs.org/est/index.m3u8':
  Duration: N/A, start: 72081.308378, bitrate: N/A
  Program 0
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 5278416
  Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], Closed Captions, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 5278416
  Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 5278416
  Stream #0:2: Data: timed_id3 (ID3  / 0x20334449)
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 5278416
  Program 1
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 3329810
  Stream #0:3: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], Closed Captions, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 3329810
  Stream #0:4: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 3329810
  Stream #0:5: Data: timed_id3 (ID3  / 0x20334449)
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 3329810
  Program 2
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1656105
  Stream #0:6: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 768x432 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], Closed Captions, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1656105
  Stream #0:7: Audio: aac (HE-AACv2) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1656105
  Stream #0:8: Data: timed_id3 (ID3  / 0x20334449)
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1656105
  Program 3
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 826962
  Stream #0:9: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 416x234 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], Closed Captions, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 826962
  Stream #0:10: Audio: aac (HE-AACv2) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 826962
  Stream #0:11: Data: timed_id3 (ID3  / 0x20334449)
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 826962

The Serviio log is attached. It shows me adding the stream to my Serviio online sources, loading the stream successfully in VLC on my PC, and then unsuccessfully loading the stream on my Sony Bravia TV.

Re: Only can watch HLS stream when I stream it from VLC

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2026 7:32 pm
by jtm
Today, I found a contradiction to the "Stream with VLC to get it to play" rule. Here is the ffmpeg -i output for the stream that won't play, even after I run it through VLC:

  Code:
ffmpeg version 5.1.2 Copyright (c) 2000-2022 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 8.2.1 (GCC) 20180830
  configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libass --enable-librtmp --enable-fontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-zlib --enable-libx264 --enable-libspeex --enable-libaom --disable-encoder=libaom_av1 --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm -lexpat -lfreetype -lfribidi -lz' --arch=x86_64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --target-os=mingw64 --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --enable-gpl --pkg-config=pkg-config --bindir='/jenkins/workspace/FFmpeg - Win64/target'
  libavutil      57. 28.100 / 57. 28.100
  libavcodec     59. 37.100 / 59. 37.100
  libavformat    59. 27.100 / 59. 27.100
  libavdevice    59.  7.100 / 59.  7.100
  libavfilter     8. 44.100 /  8. 44.100
  libswscale      6.  7.100 /  6.  7.100
  libswresample   4.  7.100 /  4.  7.100
  libpostproc    56.  6.100 / 56.  6.100
Input #0, flv, from 'http://127.0.0.1:8080/livestream':
  Metadata:
    encoding_tool   : VLC 3.0.23
    encoder         : Lavf58.76.100
  Duration: 00:00:00.00, start: 1368.367000, bitrate: N/A
  Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline), yuv420p(progressive), 426x240 [SAR 1:1 DAR 71:40], 512 kb/s, 30.30 fps, 29.97 tbr, 1k tbn
  Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 64 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified


Update: I realized that I forgot to enable MPEG-TS transcoding. That's why it wouldn't work. This post can be ignored or deleted.

Re: Only can watch HLS stream when I stream it from VLC

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2026 7:49 pm
by jtm
Here's a ffmpeg -i output and Serviio log for a stream that does successfully play on my 2010 Bravia:

  Code:
ffmpeg version 5.1.2 Copyright (c) 2000-2022 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 8.2.1 (GCC) 20180830
  configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libass --enable-librtmp --enable-fontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-zlib --enable-libx264 --enable-libspeex --enable-libaom --disable-encoder=libaom_av1 --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm -lexpat -lfreetype -lfribidi -lz' --arch=x86_64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --target-os=mingw64 --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --enable-gpl --pkg-config=pkg-config --bindir='/jenkins/workspace/FFmpeg - Win64/target'
  libavutil      57. 28.100 / 57. 28.100
  libavcodec     59. 37.100 / 59. 37.100
  libavformat    59. 27.100 / 59. 27.100
  libavdevice    59.  7.100 / 59.  7.100
  libavfilter     8. 44.100 /  8. 44.100
  libswscale      6.  7.100 /  6.  7.100
  libswresample   4.  7.100 /  4.  7.100
  libpostproc    56.  6.100 / 56.  6.100
Input #0, mpegts, from 'http://127.0.0.1:8080/livestream':
  Duration: N/A, start: 323.795000, bitrate: N/A
  Program 1
    Metadata:
      service_name    :
      service_provider:
  Stream #0:0[0x64]: Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p(progressive), 426x240 [SAR 1:1 DAR 71:40], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn
  Stream #0:1[0xc8]: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 258 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified
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