Bizarre comment about linux from NZ Film On Demand

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ajbw

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#302696 12-Dec-2022 18:52

Here is most of the text of a couple of emails about watching the NZ Film On Demand service ( https://ondemand.nzfilm.co.nz/ )

Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I read it as "We can't be bothered - go away" so they say " does not allow Linux operating systems as they are considered to be less secure"

But it still annoys me...

-----Original Message-----
From: xxx@xxx
Sent: Saturday, 10 December 2022 9:02 p.m.
To: VOD
Subject: Linux

"Can I watch NZ Film On Demand on Linux?
No. Linux is not supported."

When wil it be?

-------------- reply ----------------
Kia ora xxx,
Thank you for your email regarding Linux and the NZ Film On Demand platform.

As mentioned on the help page on our VOD website, Linux is not supported by our VOD platform. The DRM software on our platform is used to protect the content from piracy and does not allow Linux operating systems as they are considered to be less secure. Due to this, there are no plans to make Linux available at this time.

If it is possible to use a device without Linux, our platform is available to use on Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Opera if using a PC, or Safari if you are on a Mac.

I apologise if this issue has caused you any inconvenience and thank you again for emailing.

Have a lovely day.

Ngā mihi,
yyy

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#3009221 12-Dec-2022 19:29

Awesome. I was not aware of this service.

Back to the topic. Help says: DRM used is Google Widevine, Microsoft PlayReady, and Apple FairPlay. In platforms Linux is not mentioned as supported. I reckon it depends.

What flavour and version of Linux are you running? I'm assuming you have Chrome installed.

xpd

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#3009231 12-Dec-2022 20:02

That bites.... I just installed Linux as my daily,I mainly use Plex tho as my media source and PrimeVideo. Plex runs fine, but not tried Prime yet... thats to do tomorrow.

Maybe go back to them with a list of video sites that do support Linux and see what they say.

XPD / Gavin

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gzt

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#3009241 12-Dec-2022 20:29

Widevine will run on Linux Chrome/Firefox so it will depend imo which distribution OP has. Some distributions are anti any kind of DRM and present a few hoops to jump through.

I'm pretty sure we used to watch Netflix on Linux Mint a few years ago without issues.

BlakJak

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#3009306 13-Dec-2022 07:46

xpd:
That bites.... I just installed Linux as my daily,I mainly use Plex tho as my media source and PrimeVideo. Plex runs fine, but not tried Prime yet... thats to do tomorrow.

Maybe go back to them with a list of video sites that do support Linux and see what they say.

Do share the result. 👏

No signature to see here, move along...

xpd

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#3009312 13-Dec-2022 08:14

Prime happy with Kubuntu and Firefox 106.0

XPD / Gavin

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frankv

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#3009314 13-Dec-2022 08:25

I expect that free (as in speech) software is being conflated with free (as in beer), which is diametrically opposed to the world-view of a company whose raison d'etre is based on IP rights and copyright.

Anyone who would use free software (because, well, people would pirate software even if they wouldn't steal cars, and l33t #&ck3rs prefer Linux and share their pirating tools for free) would probably pirate their videos too.

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#3009318 13-Dec-2022 08:49

@gzt: Awesome. I was not aware of this service.

I suggest you look at the sticky in this sub-forum as this is listed - as a few dozen more: LEGAL video, movies and TV download and streaming options in New Zealand (geekzone.co.nz)

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gzt

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#3009458 13-Dec-2022 12:49

Nice. Added watch.

ajbw

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#3009883 14-Dec-2022 12:48

Just tried it out - 'rented' a film (aka movie) using the website.

Downloaded ok.
Started to play it in Firefox. It errored with 'licence_platform_unverified'

Browser Firefox 102.5.0esr Linux 5.10.0-18-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.140-1 (2022-09-02) x86_64 GNU/Linux
debian_version 11.5 (bullseye) with non-free stuff.

I think they just lost a customer...

gzt

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#3009962 14-Dec-2022 14:30

Firefox you need to enable DRM, or try Chrome (not Chromium)

SpartanVXL

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#3009963 14-Dec-2022 14:33

ajbw: Just tried it out - 'rented' a film (aka movie) using the website.

Downloaded ok.
Started to play it in Firefox. It errored with 'licence_platform_unverified'

Browser Firefox 102.5.0esr Linux 5.10.0-18-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.140-1 (2022-09-02) x86_64 GNU/Linux
debian_version 11.5 (bullseye) with non-free stuff.

I think they just lost a customer...

Does NZ Film On Demand use Digital Rights Managment (DRM) software?
Yes, Google Widevine, Microsoft PlayReady, and Apple FairPlay are the DRM technologies that we use to protect the content from online piracy.

I would diagnose whichever one you’d be using on your distro as to why it’s not working (widevine?).

Semi-expected if you want to use a service you need to fall within their requirements. I don’t wanna say it but with linux it’s still very much ‘support yourself’ when it comes to it.

Honestly I would just get it on mobile and mirror it to the TV if I really wanted to use this, whichever is the easiest method.

Edit: as post above says, enable drm playback in FF/Chrome and make sure it’s functional.

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ajbw

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#3009964 14-Dec-2022 14:45

Widevine is activated and DRM is enabled. And they say that Firefox is usable on other systems. I've not checked, but I wonder if they are just looking at the user agent...

gareth41

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#3012734 21-Dec-2022 13:38

ajbw: Widevine is activated and DRM is enabled. And they say that Firefox is usable on other systems. I've not checked, but I wonder if they are just looking at the user agent...

Firefox works with widevine on Linux, there's a few tutorials on Reddit on how to install the plugins etc... If you've done all that, test it with TVNZ or Three and see if they work, both use Widevine. If you still can't get NZ Film to work, its likely they are looking at the useragent, or have Linux OS's disabled under their Widevine account - if its the latter, there's nothing you can do as the Widevine server simply won't issue a license for playback.

You could try changing the Firefox useragent, and use a Firefox windows useragent, if that doesn't work its likely the specific Widevine CDM (Content Decryption Module) used for Firefox on Linux has been disabled as per above.

ajbw

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#3012993 21-Dec-2022 20:30

We can use Firefox with TVNZ+/on demand. And we did try changing the user agent, so I think we're out of luck here.

cddt

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#3012996 21-Dec-2022 21:06

I don't see anything I want to pay for on there but I typically don't have trouble playing DRM video on Firefox on Linux with the following plugin: "Widevine Content Decryption Module provided by Google Inc."

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