Websites using SSAI (server side ad injection)

[ZaphodBeebblebrox]

URL(s) where the issue occurs

http://www.cwtv.com/shows/arrow/brothers-in-arms/?play=498cfef8-fa09-4b70-b860-88fd4f1e3362&extended

Describe the issue

At certain points in the video, ads play. They are marked on the bottom bar by the thicker sections. The first one starts at 7:45.

Versions

• 65.0.3325.181 (Official Build) (64-bit)
• uBlock Origin version: 1.15.18

Settings

Default settings

[mapx-]

as I can see it's about uplynk streaming (SSAI), so ... it seems nothing to do
#772 (comment)

[ghajini]

Something like this
https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/issues/1837
Can it be done? Noopmp4 @gorhill

[mapx-]

an idea from ABP:
https://issues.adblockplus.org/ticket/6592

[uBlock-user]

Isn't that the same as $redirect directive ?

[gorhill]

They suggest to rewrite the URL without blocking the request -- redirect's purpose is different, and two-fold: 1st to block, then to redirect to a local resource such that no network request leaves the browser.

[gorhill]

Can it be done? Noopmp4 @gorhill

So far I haven't been able to investigate any of the cases, they all require to create an account, and it seems one need to be in the US. For example, the URL here I get "Access forbidden" and the page renders badly.

[uBlock-user]

the URL here I get "Access forbidden" and the page renders badly.

Same here, they purposefully deface the page upon detecting the IP being outside of the US.

[gorhill]

The rewrite option is now available in ABP dev build. Does it work to fix the issue here?

[uBlock-user]

As per the comment#11 it does.

[gorhill]

That comment is for http://6abc.com/shots-fired-at-police-in-gloucester-twp-standoff-schools-closed/2927128/, not for the case here, http://www.cwtv.com/shows/arrow/brothers-in-arms/?play=498cfef8-fa09-4b70-b860-88fd4f1e3362&extended. I am asking for a verified answer, not a speculated one, i.e. is it working for the case here and with which filters exactly. I can't test this myself, I get a "Access is forbidden" for the URL in opening comment.

[uBlock-user]

That comment is for https://6abc.com/shots-fired-at-police-in-gloucester-twp-standoff-schools-closed/2927128/, not for the case here, https://www.cwtv.com/shows/arrow/brothers-in-arms/?play=498cfef8-fa09-4b70-b860-88fd4f1e3362&extended

They both use uplynk, wouldn't that make them both the same test case ?

Also - https://adblockplus.org/development-builds/rewriting-url-instead-of-blocking

[ZaphodBeebblebrox]

Strangely, they appear to have stopped using uplynk. At the moment, I cannot find something that uses the uplynk player, and ads are skipped. I guess this issue should be closed? (It doesn't really feel like my issue, so I shall leave it up to others discretion.)

[mapx-]

@ZaphodBeebblebrox I can confirm: no uplynk at all

[mapx-]

6abc still using uplynk, and $rewrite filter is working only for chrome, firefox getting a black screen video (as reported here). Probably it's the same issue uBo has with xhr redirections on FF.

[uBlock-user]

They saw ABP's new directive and reacted, they will come up with something else. Don't expect it to be one and done.

[okiehsch]

I have closed/merged all other issues with sites using SSAI.

These websites are using SSAI

6abc.com
7plus.com.au
abc11.com
abc7.com
brighteon.com
citytv.com
cwtv.com
discovery.com
fox.com
hgtv.com
investigationdiscovery.com
nbc.com
sciencechannel.com
threenow.co.nz
tlc.com
viceland.com
https://www.discoveryplus.com/it/video/fratelli-di-crozza/stagione-5-puntata-24-del-10-dicembre-2021
tlc.com

[jspenguin2017]

I got one more report, it has New Zealand GeoLock and requires account. I got 403 even with a VPN, but from network requests, I can see it requests manifest from Unicorn Media (owned by Brightcove), so I assume it is server side ads insertion as well.

https://www.threenow.co.nz/shows/svu/season-19-ep-20/S1543-013/M22244-050

[jspenguin2017]

More:

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/fear-thy-neighbor/full-episodes/the-war-next-door
http://watch.hgtv.com/show/hlili/love-it-or-list-it/3309922/a-sentimental-situation/

[ZaphodBeebblebrox]

More:

www.discovery.com 
www.sciencechannel.com

[uBlock-user]

Another one

https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/90-day-fiance-happily-ever-after/full-episodes/there-is-something-they-dont-know

[Alanimus]

This is a real problem. I spent a couple hours trying out the URL rewrite with adblock plus and while the filter works, I can't block the ads. Could someone explain how this should work? You can bypass the geo block with VPN and the "unlocked" videos have the same problem on investigationdiscovery.com so you don't need a TV account or anything.

[stephenhawk8054]

vix.com
#14213

[ghost]

#14535
4685746

[snvoid]

is Crackle using SSAI now? I seem to be getting ads

[peace2000]

What's the current situation, is there anything that can be done to discoveryplus.com ?

This is trailer which doesn't require an account to watch. It shows an ad too.

https://www.discoveryplus.com/fi/video/atlantin-yli/traileri-kausi-3

[stephenhawk8054]

Edit: with latest update of uBO (from version 1.49.3.116), these filters work for me without breakages:

discoveryplus.com##+js(json-prune, data.attributes.ssaiInfo.forecastTimeline data.attributes.ssaiInfo.vendorAttributes.nonLinearAds data.attributes.ssaiInfo.vendorAttributes.videoView data.attributes.ssaiInfo.vendorAttributes.breaks.[].ads.[].adMetadata data.attributes.ssaiInfo.vendorAttributes.breaks.[].ads.[].adParameters data.attributes.ssaiInfo.vendorAttributes.breaks.[].timeOffset)
discoveryplus.com##+js(xml-prune, xpath(//*[name()="MPD"]/@mediaPresentationDuration | //*[name()="Period"][./*[name()="BaseURL" and contains(text()\,'dash_clear_fmp4')]]), , .mpd)

As far as I see, the structures of discoveryplus-sites are quite the same so it might solve most other cases too.

[peace2000]

@stephenhawk8054 Sorry I was slow to respond :) Yeah seems to work just fine (checked with those updated filters).

Also works for normal episode: https://www.discoveryplus.com/fi/video/wahlgrens-varld/stor-familjemiddag-hos-wahlgrens.

(Free, but requires an account).

[peace2000]

uBO's tools to handle these issues have improved so no point to have this open.

If there are still unfixed sites, please file a separate report about them: https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/issues

[terrorist96]

I saw that this longstanding issue was closed. I checked to test to see if it was really fixed and most seem to be fixed. But I found one that still has ads:
https://go.discovery.com/video/expedition-unknown-discovery-atve-us/amelia-earhart
Seeing an ad at the beginning. Might have ads throughout as well. I didn't watch long enough to test. Didn't want to make a new issue to avoid duplicates. @mapx-

[peace2000]

@terrorist96 Please open a report here: https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/issues