Podcast from RNE (Spanish Public Radio) like this one here: Turbo 3 are not working properly.
I can add them via ‘Add pocast’, or directly via RSS, they show up correctly, but if you try playing or downloading an episode, I get a 403 error message. Playing works just fine via media adress/browser or with other podcatchers (I tried Tsacdop-Fork).
Does anybody have an ide what is wrong here? Should I open a bug report?
I’m having exactly the same issue. Maybe RNE is checking the browser id and blocking some of them?
Possible. We had some other podcast a while ago that also randomly blocked some podcast apps
I wrote them an email, let’s see. Makes sense that the issue is on their side with the 403.
I tested some rne podcasts in different apps - no 403 error, working as expected…
I’m subscribed several podcast of RNE and all stop working same time and same error, 403, I checked with iVoox and work without problems. I also have user an password in RNE and I try login with that option in AntennaPod, and same error 403
Yeah, it gives a forbidden error. Checking if it has to do with the headers, it looks like opening it in a browser redirects to other URL that works without any problems checking that with curl. Don’t know why isn’t it redirecting from the one on the feed.
On iVoox it probably works because they’ve added their podcasts there themselves, and the app probably serves as an intermediary, not downloading the files from the publisher.
Please keep us updated when they answer your email, and let’s hope they don’t add DRM to RNE’s content, as they’re already starting to do with RTVE’s programs
Edit: Upon closer inspection it seems to be the UserAgent, it is the only needed header, and it should be a browser (or at least a known one, but with curl’s default one it doesn’t redirect, is the same 403). That is a shame… it could be easily bypassed by anyone if it is done on purpose, but it just serves to annoy those using alternative (and arguably better) clients 
Hmm looks like it just started working again 
For me it’s still the 403?
Mail contact with them doesn’t seem to go anywhere so far, their 1st level general support is not in charge of this. I have to check if I can find a contact which is better suited. My broken spanish probably doesn’t help either.
Oh, I can’t try to reach out then, if you want, no problem
I’m still getting a 403 error; I just checked it again. Where can I reach out to RNE support?
There is a contact email on the feed. I’ll try to reach out, asking if there is a way that they expect third party clients to identify, and if that is the reason it doesn’t work
Thanks for writing… I was about to do that, but well proceed from what you say. Could the message be sent from an @antennapod email, @ByteHamster ? I don’t mind preparing the message myself in spanish.
I find that answer odd… I get that probably the have the RSS for itunes and such, but that is a service that they’re given to the final users, and it should work as expected, that is, that any podcast client can download it. I think that we should try contacting them, but it’s them who should fix the problem, because Antennapod is an “standard” podcast client that (I don’t think) should have workarounds specific to each source for the simple reason that a publisher doesn’t follow the standard.
Gracias por escribirles… iba a hacerlo yo, pero aprovechamos tu respuesta y seguiremos de ahí. ¿Se podría enviar el mensaje desde una dirección de antennapod @ByteHamster ? No tendría problema en preparar yo el mensaje.
Me extraña un poco su respuesta… entiendo que probablemente tienen el RSS para itunes y demás, pero es un servicio que le están dando a los usuarios finales, y debería de funcionar como se espera, es decir, que cualquier cliente de podcasts pueda descargar los episodios. Creo que deberíamos intentar contactarles, pero es RTVE quien tiene que arreglar el problema porque AntennaPod es un cliente de podcasts “estándar”, que (no creo) que tenga que solucionar los problemas específicos a cada publicador por el simple motivo de que no quieran seguir la norma.
Saludos - regards
Iago
Thanks @delthia!
I noticed a bug report was opened on GitHub as well: Podcasts from publis Spanish ràdio do not play nor download · Issue #7864 · AntennaPod/AntennaPod · GitHub
It is annoying indeed. At the same time, I can imagine this being related to blocking out some apps that don’t treat their podcasts well, or maybe even to prevent AI scraping. The latter is an issue at my work that the client wants to address, but of course it is widely known that these companies don’t give a sh*t about robots.txt and what have you. Blocklisting user agents might not work, so I can imagine that they use a whitelisting approach, which should have a slightly higher success rate.
Yes, we can! I was just about to ask you just that 
We can put you in CC, to maybe make follow-up easier. I think in the message we should
AntennaPod/x.y.zCheers!
Mismo problema con podcast RNE
That’s is the message I’ll write:
Estimados señores de RTVE,
Me dirijo a ustedes como uno de los desarrolladores de AntennaPod y oyente habitual de los podcasts de RTVE.
Recientemente, he notado con preocupación que los podcasts de RTVE ya no se pueden descargar a través de AntennaPod. AntennaPod es un programa gratuito y de código abierto. Su naturaleza abierta y transparente lo convierte en una opción ideal para muchos usuarios que valoran la libertad de software y la privacidad. Además, resulta paradójico que esta restricción no se aplique a otros programas o navegadores, como Google Chrome, lo que sugiere que no hay una limitación en el acceso al contenido.
Considerando que RTVE es un servicio público, creo firmemente que debería favorecer el uso y la accesibilidad a programas de código abierto, promoviendo así la independencia tecnológica y el acceso universal a la información para todos los ciudadanos. Bloquear una aplicación como AntennaPod va en contra de este espíritu.
Les solicito encarecidamente que reconsideren esta decisión y permitan nuevamente el acceso a los podcasts de RTVE a través de AntennaPod.
Para ofrecerles un ejemplo técnico concreto del bloqueo, tomemos como referencia el feed RSS del programa “El Sótano” de Radio 3. Pueden acceder a él directamente desde la página web de RTVE en El sótano
El enlace al último programa, a la fecha de este correo, es https://ztnr.rtve.es/ztnr/16647613.mp3 . Hemos verificado que este archivo se descarga sin ningún problema usando un navegador web como Google Chrome. Sin embargo, la descarga a través de AntennaPod está siendo activamente bloqueada.
Pueden confirmar esto fácilmente realizando las siguientes pruebas con la herramienta curl en una terminal:
Para simular la descarga con el “user-agent” de AntennaPod, verán que la descarga se bloquea:
curl -L -A "AntennaP/1.2.3" "https://ztnr.rtve.es/ztnr/16647613.mp3" > a.mp3En contraste, si utilizan un “user-agent” diferente, como uno genérico o uno elegido al azar, la descarga se realiza sin inconvenientes:
curl -L -A "user-agent-random" "https://ztnr.rtve.es/ztnr/16647613.mp3" > a.mp3Esta prueba demuestra claramente que el bloqueo es específico para el “user-agent” de AntennaPod, lo cual restringe el acceso a sus podcasts a los usuarios de esta aplicación de software libre.
Agradezco de antemano su atención a esta solicitud.
Atentamente,
[your name]
Translation (Translated with Google Translate and quickly reviewed by me):
Dear RTVE,
I am writing to you as one of the developers of AntennaPod and a regular listener of RTVE podcasts.
Recently, I have noticed that RTVE podcasts can no longer be downloaded through AntennaPod. AntennaPod is a free and open-source program. Its open and transparent nature makes it an ideal option for many users who value software freedom and privacy. Furthermore, it is paradoxical that this restriction does not apply to other programs or browsers, such as Google Chrome, suggesting that there is no limitation on access to content.
Considering that RTVE is a public service, I strongly believe that it should encourage the use and accessibility of open-source programs, thus promoting technological independence and universal access to information for all citizens. Blocking an application like AntennaPod goes against this spirit.
I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and once again allow access to RTVE podcasts through AntennaPod.
To give you a concrete technical example of the blocking, let’s look at the RSS feed for the Radio 3 program “El Sótano.” You can access it directly from the RTVE website at El sótano.
The link to the latest program, as of the date of this email, is /ztnr.rtve.es/ztnr/16647613.mp3. We have verified that this file downloads without any issues using a web browser such as Google Chrome. However, downloading through AntennaPod is being actively blocked.
You can easily confirm this by running the following tests using the curl tool in a terminal:
To simulate the download using the AntennaPod user agent, you will see that the download hangs:
curl -L -A “AntennaP/1.2.3” “https://ztnr.rtve.es/ztnr/16647613.mp3” > a.mp3In contrast, if you use a different user agent, such as a generic one or one chosen at random, the download proceeds without problems:
curl -L -A “user-agent-random” “https://ztnr.rtve.es/ztnr/16647613.mp3” > a.mp3This test clearly demonstrates that the block is specific to the AntennaPod user agent, which restricts access to its podcasts to users of this free software application.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this request. Sincerely,
[your name]
Well, I don’t know if we can confidently say that they are actively blocking AntennaPod’s user agent. In fact, when I was trying with curl, a browser UserAgent such as firefox’s, it work, but with a random one it didn’t work.
That goes to say that I think that it is more likely a whitelist than a blacklist, as @keunes said.
So, basically, what I would change is, instead of accusing them, first approach them asking for help, which in my opinion is a better way to get.
Will you send an email? My idea was for it to be sent from an AntennaPod mailbox, so it is clear who is sending it.
edit: I agree with what you say about it being a public service and that it should be available to anyone in any circumstances, but how about just reaching out explaining the problem and seeing if their first idea is to help out, and reserve the whole free software explanation for if they don’t solve it? (this is just my opinion on how I’d approach it)
I can send a message to them on behalf of AntennaPod. I think we’re aligned on the approach @delthia. Would you mind drafting something?
Then if other community members want to reach out they’re of course free to do as well. I would just make it a bit more vague and not mentioned AntennaPod in the first email, @Jose_Luis, to not make it seem like a coordinated effort. They’ll probably ask anyway, so it could be a nice bit for the follow-up message.
@delthia @keunes Thanks a lot for your help with this issue
I haven’t sent any email yet. Based on your feedback, I won’t mention AntennaPod or accuse them of blocking any user agents. I’m also going to wait to send the email; it’s probably more effective if an AntennaPod member contacts them first.
@delthia I’m getting different results: downloads work with a random (non-empty) user agent, but they are blocked with cURL or AntennaPod user agents.
Hola. Acabo de descubrir este foro.
Yo el otro día les escribí contando la problemática que conocéis y me contestaron con esto:
Las fuentes rss de los que las plataformas de podcast se alimentan están disponibles sin restricciones por nuestra parte. Los bloqueos que puedan aplicarse serán originados por el método en que estas accedan a los recursos y restricciones de seguridad basados en la confianza del servicio solicitante.
Creo que están mirando para otro lado ante un problema o circunstancia que les afecta.
El caso es que hoy sigue siendo imposible reproducir esos audios mediante AntennaPod que, por otra parte sigue funcionando con total normalidad en lo que respecta al rss.
@Jose_Luis @delthia