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web_tech_know
Participant
May 16, 2011
Question

BBC News embedded clips do not play

  • May 16, 2011
  • 1 reply
  • 1960 views

Hi

Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1 Build 2600 (32 bit)

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13

Flash Player Win 10.2.159.1 

Most sites (e.g. YouTube) work correctly.  However I can not view any embedded content on the BBC News web site.  Try, for example, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13408803.  I see a black rectangle where the video should be.  When the page loads I see a rotating red disc for less than one second.  I've looked in these forums and trawled the Internet but have not yet found a solution.  Any ideas?

Thanks you.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    A
    Anonymous
    May 16, 2011

    Hi, One thing that the BBC seems to require is that some Global Settings need set.

    http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager03.html

    Also refer to this thread on Post# 10, 11 & 12 only: http://forums.adobe.com/message/2970532#2970532

    Also, this site has info on the player they use and requirements:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/help/6187964.stm#top

    Hope some of the above is helpful.

    eidnolb

    W
    web_tech_knowAuthor
    Participant
    May 17, 2011

    Hi eidnolb,

    Your information has lead to a solution thank you.  I already knew about the Flash Player Settings Manager and, being paranoid about security, I had disabled pretty much everything which related to storing information on my PC.  Your reference to post#10 of http://forums.adobe.com/message/2970532#2970532 contains the following text:

    --- quote ---

    I'd unchecked the box 'Allow third-party Flash content to store data on your computer' because I don't like my PC being cluttered with cookies and such like, especially without my knowledge.

    This innocent-looking checkbox needs a much better description and a strong warning that it can stop all videos playing on some sites but not others !

    I wouldn't have expected BBC videos on the BBC site to be classified as third party, nor that preventing data being stored would also stop it being played.  There's not even an error message or explanation, so it's not easy to deduce.

    --- end quote ---

    So I unchecked "Allow third-party Flash content to store data on your computer" on  http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager03.html and now the embedded BBC News media content all play correctly.  Interestingly I cannot find any mention of this setting on your reference to the BBC's requirements (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/help/6187964.stm#top).

    Solution found so I've marked this thread as "answered" and I hope the information helps somedy else.  Thank you once again.


    A
    Anonymous
    May 17, 2011

    Hi, I'm glad that thread  helped. That came about when I was helping on that thread and at the same time another thread. The other thread had BBC issues as you did so info from the thread I gave you helped the other person from the UK!!

    I haven't read the entire BBC requirements and it wouldn't surprise me that the 3rd party info isn't there. However, I have read the BBC requirements from their main page and must say, it is extensive and they appear to bend over backwards with info needed to watch their site. Not everything is in one place, so that may be the problem, LOL Maybe the 3rd party info is in the section below.

    This site at the bottom are the BBC Help & Accessibility Help links and you can find most any issue covered

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

    Thanks for marking your thread as answered also.

    eidnolb

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