Playing BBC iPlayer downloads

[gprit]

I downloaded some programmes from BBC IPlayer, which are in .MP4 format, to my laptop.

However, when I try and play them using VLC nothing plays, no sound or vision, although the progress bar moves. No error messages.
I can play other .MP4 videos no problem. Is there a way around this as I would prefer just the VLC player to having to use BBC iPlayer itself to play (which may not be possible when I am abroad).

[bat999]

... I downloaded some programmes from BBC IPlayer...

Hi
If you download the programmes using BBC software they won't play with VLC.
To play the programmes with VLC they must be downloaded using third party software such as get_iplayer here ---> https://squarepenguin.co.uk/

[gprit]

Using get_iplayer sounds like a bit of overkill.....It would be interesting to find out WHY the downloaded mp4 file canot be played with VLC, even after stripping the DRM. After all surely an MP4 file is an MP4 file???