Latest Firefox has problems displaying NYTimes videos. NYTimes says Chrome is better. Why?
After the last couple of updates, Firefox now gets stuck when I try to watch a video withing an article on the nytimes.com web site; I just get a little arrow going around in an endless circle. In the past, videos would play o.k.
So in order to view a video, I must copy and paste the link into a Chrome browser, where the video plays immediately.
When I asked the NYTimes web support tech about it, he replied, "Certain browsers have issues supporting the NYT. We recommend using Google Chrome to view the NYT content if possible."
Why does Chrome play videos perfectly and Firefox not at all on this important site?
I have no problems with Firefox playing videos at other sites.
Here's an example page. No show with Firefox, o.k. with Chrome.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/us/politics/kavanaugh-allegations-ford-palo-alto.html
Chosen solution
Hi mozlarry, when I load that page in Firefox 62 on Windows 7, the video autoplays. If I then unblock ads, there is an overlay about subscribing, and/or a video ad plays, and eventually the video plays. So it can work in Firefox.
Could you first check whether your Firefox can decode H.264 video? A quick test is YouTube's HTML5 support page:
If either of the H.264 boxes are red, see: Fix video and audio problems on Firefox for Windows N editions.
Assuming that is good:
Q: Do you use any settings or add-ons to disable media from auto-playing?
If so, try switching those off for testing.
Q: Could you check your content blockers:
Firefox's Tracking Protection feature and extensions that counter ads and tracking may break websites that weren't built to operate normally without the blocked components.
Do you see a shield icon toward the left end of the address bar, near the lock icon? More info on managing the Tracking Protection feature in this article: What happened to Tracking Protection?.
Extensions such as Adblock Plus, Blur, Disconnect, Ghostery, NoScript, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin or uMatrix should provide toolbar buttons to manage blocked content in a page. There may or may not be a number on the icon indicating the number of blocked items; you may need to click the button to see what's going on and test whether you need to make an exception for this site.
Q: Have you tried clearing cache and cookies?
When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Clear Firefox's Cache
See: How to clear the Firefox cache
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:
- right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
- (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
- click the padlock or "i" icon in the address bar, then the ">" button, then More Information, and finally the "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button
In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites.
Then try reloading the page. Does that help?
Q: Could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode:
In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)
If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart.
Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Any improvement?
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Hi mozlarry, when I load that page in Firefox 62 on Windows 7, the video autoplays. If I then unblock ads, there is an overlay about subscribing, and/or a video ad plays, and eventually the video plays. So it can work in Firefox.
Could you first check whether your Firefox can decode H.264 video? A quick test is YouTube's HTML5 support page:
If either of the H.264 boxes are red, see: Fix video and audio problems on Firefox for Windows N editions.
Assuming that is good:
Q: Do you use any settings or add-ons to disable media from auto-playing?
If so, try switching those off for testing.
Q: Could you check your content blockers:
Firefox's Tracking Protection feature and extensions that counter ads and tracking may break websites that weren't built to operate normally without the blocked components.
Do you see a shield icon toward the left end of the address bar, near the lock icon? More info on managing the Tracking Protection feature in this article: What happened to Tracking Protection?.
Extensions such as Adblock Plus, Blur, Disconnect, Ghostery, NoScript, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin or uMatrix should provide toolbar buttons to manage blocked content in a page. There may or may not be a number on the icon indicating the number of blocked items; you may need to click the button to see what's going on and test whether you need to make an exception for this site.
Q: Have you tried clearing cache and cookies?
When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Clear Firefox's Cache
See: How to clear the Firefox cache
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:
- right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
- (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
- click the padlock or "i" icon in the address bar, then the ">" button, then More Information, and finally the "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button
In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites.
Then try reloading the page. Does that help?
Q: Could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode:
In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)
If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart.
Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Any improvement?
Scher's response was well-thought out and I appreciate the time put into drafting it.
After 34 years of being on line, I'm tired of spending my time fine tuning and readjusting after software upgrades. In this matter, it's easier for me to just switch to Chrome and be through with it.
I am having similar difficulties. I use Linux Ubuntu 18.04 LTS on a Lenovo Thinkpad T410 and am in UK. I accessed the NY Times page mentioned by the origiginal poster and had to click on the black box to make the video play - but it did.
When I access https://www.mfc.co.uk/ there are a number of videos which I could play but none of them work - pressing the play button just changes its colour.
I have tried all of the suggestions in the chosen answer without any satisfaction. Before the upgrade to 62 they all worked fine.
Hi DaveGinberry, I thought I was going to watch a video on https://www.mfc.co.uk/ but it brought me to an account creation page. Hmm.
If it didn't play for me, here's what I would have checked:
Double-check content blockers: Firefox's Tracking Protection feature and extensions that counter ads and tracking may break websites that weren't built to operate normally without the blocked components.
Do you see a shield icon toward the left end of the address bar, near the lock icon? More info on managing the Tracking Protection feature in this article: What happened to Tracking Protection?.
Extensions such as Adblock Plus, Blur, Disconnect, Ghostery, NoScript, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin or uMatrix should provide toolbar buttons to manage blocked content in a page. There may or may not be a number on the icon indicating the number of blocked items; you may need to click the button to see what's going on and test whether you need to make an exception for this site.
Error Messages: You could check for messages in Firefox's Web Console. You can open the Web Console in the lower part of the tab using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Web Developer > Web Console
- (menu bar) Tools > Web Developer > Web Console
- (Windows) Ctrl+Shift+k
Then reload the page in the upper part of the tab and watch for error or security messages. (The lines with blue triangles generally are not significant unless you suspect a style rule problem.) Anything that sounds like it could be relevant?
After everything settles down, click the Play button and watch for new messages. Anything relevant?
Failed Retrievals: In the same Developer Tools panel is a "Network" tab. This should have captured all the attempting retrivals since you opened the panel. A status of 200 in the left column is good, a status in the low 300's is usually okay (e.g., a redirect or indication that the cached version is still current), but higher numbers or lack of response could be a concern.
Thank you for your interest and response on this matter. It is very easy for you to register on the site - nothing too onerous - just an email account and fake login name will do.
I am fairly certain I have no content b;ockers running - but I did disable adblocker plus to check - same problem.
So, I tried your next suggestion about the web console, reloaded the page and this is the result:-
kWidget: StreamAMG HTML5 Version: 2.42 3000119:50:636 getSessionState called stream-payments.js:55:9 Cached session state has expired stream-payments.js:76:17 [Show/hide message details.] TypeError: e.AjaxCommands is undefined[Learn More] main.min.js:1:1482044 Loading failed for the <script> with source “https://adservice.google.co.uk/adsid/integrator.js?domain=www.mfc.co.uk”. tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test:1 Loading failed for the <script> with source “https://adservice.google.com/adsid/integrator.js?domain=www.mfc.co.uk”. tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test:1 Cross-Origin Request Blocked: The Same Origin Policy disallows reading the remote resource at https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?gdfp_req=1&pvsid=699753370972608&correlator=370080480358862&output=json_html&callback=googletag.impl.pubads.callbackProxy1&impl=fifs&json_a=1&eid=21060168%2C21062378%2C21062456%2C21062453&vrg=249&guci=1.2.0.0.2.2.0&sc=1&sfv=1-0-29&iu_parts=21619115251%2CNews_Promo_1&enc_prev_ius=%2F0%2F1&prev_iu_szs=240x400&cookie_enabled=1&bc=5&abxe=1&lmt=1537628465&dt=1537628465546&dlt=1537628462071&idt=3440&frm=20&biw=907&bih=225&oid=3&adxs=0&adys=540&adks=1629587708&gut=v2&ifi=1&u_tz=60&u_his=4&u_h=573&u_w=917&u_ah=573&u_aw=917&u_cd=24&u_nplug=1&u_nmime=1&u_sd=1.395&flash=10.1.999.%3Cbr%3EGnash%200.8.11dev,%20the%20GNU%20SWF%20Player.%20%20%20Copyright%20(C)%202006,%202007,%202008,%202009,%202010,%202011%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fsf.org%22%3EFree%20%20%20Software%20Foundation%3C/a%3E,%20Inc.%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20Gnash%20comes%20with%20NO%20WARRANTY,%20to%20the%20extent%20permitted%20by%20law.%20%20%20You%20may%20redistribute%20copies%20of%20Gnash%20under%20the%20terms%20of%20the%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html%22%3EGNU%20General%20Public%20%20%20License%3C/a%3E.%20For%20more%20information%20about%20Gnash,%20see%20%3Ca%20%20%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/%22%3E%20%20%20http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash%3C/a%3E.%20%20%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20Compatible%20Shockwave%20Flash%2010.1%20r999.&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fvideo-list&dssz=42&icsg=2973079227596799&std=21&rumc=2220796958517954&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=540&psz=0x-1&msz=0x-1&ga_vid=2145647045.1537560410&ga_sid=1537628466&ga_hid=1397976611&fws=4. (Reason: CORS request did not succeed).[Learn More] Cross-Origin Request Blocked: The Same Origin Policy disallows reading the remote resource at https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?gdfp_req=1&pvsid=699753370972608&correlator=370080480358862&output=json_html&callback=googletag.impl.pubads.callbackProxy2&impl=fifs&json_a=1&eid=21060168%2C21062378%2C21062456%2C21062453&vrg=249&guci=1.2.0.0.2.2.0&sc=1&sfv=1-0-29&iu_parts=21619115251%2CNews_Promo_2&enc_prev_ius=%2F0%2F1&prev_iu_szs=240x400&cookie_enabled=1&bc=5&abxe=1&lmt=1537628465&dt=1537628465610&dlt=1537628462071&idt=3440&frm=20&biw=907&bih=225&oid=3&adxs=0&adys=540&adks=2962811714&gut=v2&ifi=3&u_tz=60&u_his=4&u_h=573&u_w=917&u_ah=573&u_aw=917&u_cd=24&u_nplug=1&u_nmime=1&u_sd=1.395&flash=10.1.999.%3Cbr%3EGnash%200.8.11dev,%20the%20GNU%20SWF%20Player.%20%20%20Copyright%20(C)%202006,%202007,%202008,%202009,%202010,%202011%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fsf.org%22%3EFree%20%20%20Software%20Foundation%3C/a%3E,%20Inc.%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20Gnash%20comes%20with%20NO%20WARRANTY,%20to%20the%20extent%20permitted%20by%20law.%20%20%20You%20may%20redistribute%20copies%20of%20Gnash%20under%20the%20terms%20of%20the%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html%22%3EGNU%20General%20Public%20%20%20License%3C/a%3E.%20For%20more%20information%20about%20Gnash,%20see%20%3Ca%20%20%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/%22%3E%20%20%20http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash%3C/a%3E.%20%20%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20Compatible%20Shockwave%20Flash%2010.1%20r999.&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fvideo-list&dssz=43&icsg=2973079227596799&std=21&rumc=2220796958517954&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=540&psz=0x-1&msz=0x-1&ga_vid=2145647045.1537560410&ga_sid=1537628466&ga_hid=1397976611&fws=4. (Reason: CORS request did not succeed).[Learn More] Loading failed for the <script> with source “https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?gdfp_req=1&pvsid=699753370972608&correlator=370080480358862&output=json_html&callback=googletag.impl.pubads.callbackProxy1&impl=fifs&json_a=1&eid=21060168%2C21062378%2C21062456%2C21062453&vrg=249&guci=1.2.0.0.2.2.0&sc=1&sfv=1-0-29&iu_parts=21619115251%2CNews_Promo_1&enc_prev_ius=%2F0%2F1&prev_iu_szs=240x400&cookie_enabled=1&bc=5&abxe=1&lmt=1537628465&dt=1537628465546&dlt=1537628462071&idt=3440&frm=20&biw=907&bih=225&oid=3&adxs=0&adys=540&adks=1629587708&gut=v2&ifi=1&u_tz=60&u_his=4&u_h=573&u_w=917&u_ah=573&u_aw=917&u_cd=24&u_nplug=1&u_nmime=1&u_sd=1.395&flash=10.1.999.%3Cbr%3EGnash%200.8.11dev,%20the%20GNU%20SWF%20Player.%20%20%20Copyright%20(C)%202006,%202007,%202008,%202009,%202010,%202011%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fsf.org%22%3EFree%20%20%20Software%20Foundation%3C/a%3E,%20Inc.%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20Gnash%20comes%20with%20NO%20WARRANTY,%20to%20the%20extent%20permitted%20by%20law.%20%20%20You%20may%20redistribute%20copies%20of%20Gnash%20under%20the%20terms%20of%20the%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html%22%3EGNU%20General%20Public%20%20%20License%3C/a%3E.%20For%20more%20information%20about%20Gnash,%20see%20%3Ca%20%20%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/%22%3E%20%20%20http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash%3C/a%3E.%20%20%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20Compatible%20Shockwave%20Flash%2010.1%20r999.&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fvideo-list&dssz=42&icsg=2973079227596799&std=21&rumc=2220796958517954&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=540&psz=0x-1&msz=0x-1&ga_vid=2145647045.1537560410&ga_sid=1537628466&ga_hid=1397976611&fws=4”. tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test:1 Loading failed for the <script> with source “https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?gdfp_req=1&pvsid=699753370972608&correlator=370080480358862&output=json_html&callback=googletag.impl.pubads.callbackProxy2&impl=fifs&json_a=1&eid=21060168%2C21062378%2C21062456%2C21062453&vrg=249&guci=1.2.0.0.2.2.0&sc=1&sfv=1-0-29&iu_parts=21619115251%2CNews_Promo_2&enc_prev_ius=%2F0%2F1&prev_iu_szs=240x400&cookie_enabled=1&bc=5&abxe=1&lmt=1537628465&dt=1537628465610&dlt=1537628462071&idt=3440&frm=20&biw=907&bih=225&oid=3&adxs=0&adys=540&adks=2962811714&gut=v2&ifi=3&u_tz=60&u_his=4&u_h=573&u_w=917&u_ah=573&u_aw=917&u_cd=24&u_nplug=1&u_nmime=1&u_sd=1.395&flash=10.1.999.%3Cbr%3EGnash%200.8.11dev,%20the%20GNU%20SWF%20Player.%20%20%20Copyright%20(C)%202006,%202007,%202008,%202009,%202010,%202011%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.fsf.org%22%3EFree%20%20%20Software%20Foundation%3C/a%3E,%20Inc.%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20Gnash%20comes%20with%20NO%20WARRANTY,%20to%20the%20extent%20permitted%20by%20law.%20%20%20You%20may%20redistribute%20copies%20of%20Gnash%20under%20the%20terms%20of%20the%20%20%20%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html%22%3EGNU%20General%20Public%20%20%20License%3C/a%3E.%20For%20more%20information%20about%20Gnash,%20see%20%3Ca%20%20%20href=%22http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/%22%3E%20%20%20http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash%3C/a%3E.%20%20%20%3Cbr%3E%20%20Compatible%20Shockwave%20Flash%2010.1%20r999.&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfc.co.uk%2Fvideo-list&dssz=43&icsg=2973079227596799&std=21&rumc=2220796958517954&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=540&psz=0x-1&msz=0x-1&ga_vid=2145647045.1537560410&ga_sid=1537628466&ga_hid=1397976611&fws=4”. tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test:1 Loading failed for the <script> with source “https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/rum.js”. tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test:1
You can see this is obviously with the adblocker on so I took it off again and once more reloaded the page with this output in the web console.
kWidget: StreamAMG HTML5 Version: 2.42 3000119:50:636 getSessionState called stream-payments.js:55:9 Cached session state has expired stream-payments.js:76:17 [Show/hide message details.] TypeError: e.AjaxCommands is undefined[Learn More] main.min.js:1:1482044 Powered by AMP ⚡ HTML – Version 1809142227020 https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test runtime.js:400:6 Powered by AMP ⚡ HTML – Version 1809142227020 https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/tony-pulis-expects-tough-swansea-test runtime.js:400:6
Not as long this time :) but still pressing on the play icon only changes its colour and does not play the video. The web console does not change.
I then tried the network tab and saw mostly 200, a few 302 and a few more 304. It would be really good if you could either confirm your environment can replicate the problem or alternatively say you have no problem at all. I repeat everthing works in Google chrome.
Many thanks again
DaveGinberry said
Cached session state has expired stream-payments.js:76:17 TypeError: e.AjaxCommands is undefined main.min.js:1:1482044
I can't tell whether that first one is a problem. The second one is a problem, but I haven't tried to trace it. I might be able to create an account on the site at some point.
My original post concluded with this question, which was not answered.
"NYTimes says Chrome is better. Why?"
mozlarry said
My original post concluded with this question, which was not answered. "NYTimes says Chrome is better. Why?"
Why would someone here have the answer to that? Most of us don't even have a subscription.
just reporting in that the videos on www.mfc.co.uk www.mfc.co.uk are now working again. I now suspect the code was wrong!