PBS Blu-ray Discs and MakeMKV...

PBS Blu-ray Discs and MakeMKV

This concerns copy protection that hampers putting the contents of a new PBS series on a server for easier viewing. I have found this to be the case of almost all blu-rays of PBS programs beginning approximately the end of 2014. For me, this includes Downton Abbey, Poldark, Endeavour and All Creatures Great and Small.

I have not found this to be a problem with DVDs of PBS series and my experience includes Lewis and Foyle's War, each of which I began collecting as DVD), but finished collecting as Blu-ray—still no trouble).

However, while Poldark began well, I purchased later seasons that exhibited the problems discussed here. As these problems are not widely found in non-PBS titles, I abandoned collecting from PBS and, anyway, many PBS programs began to suffer from wokeness and were correspondingly less attractive.

In the case of Downton Abbey, seasons 1-4 were unaffected. However, things were laid down (on purpose) in a mess for seasons 5 and 6. In these notes, I will use Downton Abbey as the example.

What happened to discs beginning with Downton Abbey, season 5?

The disc authors used trickery on most of these discs to overwhelm someone using a ripping tool like MakeMKV. Here are some notes about how they did this or about behavior on MakeMKV.

They took one episode on each disc, took a section out of the middle, cut that into about 15 short segments, and then created maybe 50 *.mpls files, each with the segments randomly out of order.
Only one of the .mpls files is the right one for an episode. Somehow your Blu-ray player can tell which one is the right one to play, but MakeMKV can't.
MakeMKV lists some 200 titles to choose from.
Some have used AnyDVD HD to figure out the correct files.
Others have looked for patterns in the mess (like ignoring all the .mpls files with a trailing "(1)" or "(2)").
Other techniques include trial and error. If you rip the wrong file, it will play alright until it hits the section of scrambled segments at which point the video will play scenes in the wrong order for a little while and then it will end alright. This makes it tedious and time consuming (but not impossible) to rip the discs correctly.
It becomes a "needle in a haystack" problem. Segments are much shorter than chapters. A bad version of a title (in MakeMKV) might seem good if you quickly flip through its 7 chapters. Segments are shorter (sometimes one minute or less), so a whole batch of them might only be 5-10 minutes of playback.

Example of a solution

Below is a list of all the Downton Abbey, Season 5 episodes in one place. You must...

...run through the very long list of titles that MakeMKV presents in the left pane.
...pay attention to the Track Info window on the right.
For Season 5, Episode 1, as an example, rip the title with source filename 00802.mpls (which is output file name ending with "t163").

Specific details: Downton Abbey, Season 5 discs

Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1 (Blu-ray 14 of 21)

SEASON 5 EPISODE 1
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00802.mpls
Duration: 1:09:32
Chapters count: 7
Size: 13.2 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 107
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1_t163.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 2
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00631.mpls
Duration: 0:49:47
Chapters count: 6
Size: 9.4 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 109
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1_t129.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 3
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00709.mpls
Duration: 0:49:46
Chapters count: 5
Size: 9.4 GB
Segment count: 15
Segment map: 101,114,102,111,106,8,258,104,115,112,12,108,105,110,103
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1_t145.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 1, 2, 3 COMBINED
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00406.mpls
Duration: 2:49:06
Chapters count: 18
Size: 32.1 GB
Segment count: 17
Segment map: 107,109,101,114,102,111,106,8,258,104,115,112,12,108,105,110,103
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 1_t83.mkv

---------------------------------------------------

Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2 (Blu-ray 15 of 21)

SEASON 5 EPISODE 4
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00457.mpls
Duration: 0:49:46
Chapters count: 5
Size: 9.4 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 104
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2_t90.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 5
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00972.mpls
Duration: 0:49:47
Chapters count: 5
Size: 9.4 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 114
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2_t203.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 6
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00334.mpls
Duration: 0:49:46
Chapters count: 5
Size: 9.4 GB
Segment count: 15
Segment map: 115,111,2,112,106,107,108,113,103,110,102,625,109,13,15
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2_t69.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 7
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00887.mpls
Duration: 0:49:46
Chapters count: 5
Size: 9.4 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 12
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2_t183.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODES 4, 5, 6, 7 COMBINED
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00521.mpls
Duration: 3:19:06
Chapters count: 20
Size: 37.7 GB
Segment count: 18
Segment map: 104,114,115,111,2,112,106,107,108,113,103,110,102,625,109,13,15,12
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 2_t102.mkv

---------------------------------------------------

Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3 (Blu-ray 16 of 21)

SEASON 5 EPISODE 8
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00806.mpls
Duration: 1:09:53
Chapters count: 8
Size: 12.2 GB
Segment count: 15
Segment map: 112,107,13,2,102,116,108,347,110,111,104,109,113,106,103
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3_t160.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODE 9
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00467.mpls
Duration: 1:37:36
Chapters count: 7
Size: 17.1 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 115
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3_t89.mkv

SEASON 5 EPISODES 8, 9 COMBINED
Name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00649.mpls
Duration: 2:47:30
Chapters count: 15
Size: 29.3 GB
Segment count: 16
Segment map: 112,107,13,2,102,116,108,347,110,111,104,109,113,106,103,115
File name: Downton Abbey Season 5 Disc 3_t127.mkv

Specific details: Downton Abbey, Season 6 discs

Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1 (Blu-ray 17 of 21)

SEASON 6 EPISODE 1
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00990.mpls
Duration: 1:09:33
Chapters count: 8
Size: 15.2 GB
Segment count: 15
Segment map: 101,12,113,289,111,109,114,103,105,104,108,110,112,115,106
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1_t300.mkv

SEASON 6 EPISODE 2
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00475.mpls
Duration: 0:49:27
Chapters count: 5
Size: 10.8 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 13
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1_t145.mkv

SEASON 6 EPISODE 3
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00319.mpls
Duration: 0:49:34
Chapters count: 5
Size: 10.8 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 102
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1_t97.mkv

SEASON 6 EPISODES 1, 2, 3 COMBINED
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1 (English)
Source file name: 00445.mpls
Duration: 2:48:36
Chapters count: 18
Size: 36.9 GB
Segment count: 17
Segment map:
101,12,113,289,111,109,114,103,105,104,108,110,112,115,106,13,102
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 1_t135.mkv

---------------------------------------------------

Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 2 (Blu-ray 18 of 21)

SEASON 6 EPISODE 4
SEASON 6 EPISODE 5
SEASON 6 EPISODE 6
SEASON 6 EPISODE 7

MakeMKV reads this disc normally

---------------------------------------------------

Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (Blu-ray 19 of 21)

SEASON 6 EPISODE 8
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00354.mpls
Duration: 1:15:51
Chapters count: 9
Size: 15.5 GB
Segment count: 15
Segment map: 105,115,108,13,113,112,109,102,107,114,111,110,103,106,104
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3_t102.mkv

SEASON 6 EPISODE 9
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00317.mpls
Duration: 1:37:48
Chapters count: 10
Size: 19.9 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 2
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3_t86.mkv

SEASON 6 EPISODES 8, 9 COMBINED
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00558.mpls
Duration: 2:53:39
Chapters count: 19
Size: 35.5 GB
Segment count: 16
Segment map: 105,115,108,13,113,112,109,102,107,114,111,110,103,106,104,2
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3_t163.mkv

FAREWELL TO HIGHCLERE
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00014.m2ts
Duration: 0:06:55
Size: 1.4 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 14
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3_t304.mkv

THE CARS OF DOWNTON
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00015.m2ts
Duration: 0:11:03
Size: 2.2 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 15
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3_t305.mkv

CHANGING TIMES AT DOWNTON
Name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3 (English)
Source file name: 00018.m2ts
Duration: 0:14:17
Size: 2.9 GB
Segment count: 1
Segment map: 18
File name: Downton Abbey Season 6 Disc 3_t307.mkv

Specific details: Downton Abbey, Bonus discs

Downton Abbey Bonus Disc 1 (Blu-ray 20 of 21)

CHARACTER DOCUMENTARIES (7)
DOWNTON ABBEY CREATORS' FAVORITE SCENES

MakeMKV reads this disc normally

---------------------------------------------------

Downton Abbey Bonus Disc 2 (Blu-ray 21 of 21)

DOWNTON ABBEY SUPERCUTS
Name: Downton Abbey Bonus Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00001.mpls
Duration: 0:31:31
Chapters count: 9
Size: 6.9 GB
Segment count: 9
Segment map: 13,14,15,18,19,8,17,20,21
File name: Downton Abbey Bonus Disc 2_t00.mkv

THE STORY OF DOWNTON ABBEY
Name: Downton Abbey Bonus Disc 2 (English)
Source file name: 00693.mpls
Duration: 1:39:10
Chapters count: 10
Size: 21.7 GB
Segment count: 15
Segment map: 506,510,511,504,505,508,501,500,503,507,509,513,512,514,502
File name: Downton Abbey Bonus Disc 2_t212.mkv

Relevant links

I used the string "copy protection pbs bluray" to Google for answers.

MakeMKV, a one-click solution to converting video to Matroska. Cost: $60, however, the download will work for a trial period allowing you to determine whether or not it serves a purpose. This software is a principal utility to work around the issues discussed in these notes.
HandBrake, open-source video transcoder of video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. Runs on Linux, Macintosh and Windows. Cost: Free. This software is a principal utility to work around the issues discussed in these notes.
Article "When HandBrake won't rip your DVDs", somewhat germane to this topic.
MKVToolNix – Matroska tools for Linux/Unix and Windows, this may be germane to this topic.
VidCoder, east to use transcoder for DVD, Blu-ray and any video file to MP4/MKV video converter. It uses HandBrake as its encoding engine. Windows-based, requires .NET 5 Client. Cost: Free. It's unclear whether this software can help work around the issues discussed in these notes.
RedFox.bz, maker of AnyDVD HD, a Windows-based applications that removes restrictions of DVD and Blu-ray media automatically. Billed as a must-have utility for the serious home theater enthusiast. Cost: 109 EUR (lifetime option). It's unclear whether this software can help work around the issues discussed in these notes.