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I bought a program from the BBC Store, and downloaded it. It came to my machine as an .ismv video. Nothing I've got will open or convert an .ismv video file. So i want to convert my ismv to mp4, any good idea?

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Dani AI

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On macOS, .ismv is the Smooth Streaming flavor of fragmented MP4. If the file is not DRM‑protected, you can remux to .mp4 without re‑encoding; many store purchases, however, used PlayReady DRM, which you typically cannot remove without the decryption keys and authorization, and bypassing DRM may violate U.S. law (17 U.S.C. 1201). [Microsoft explains Smooth Streaming’s use of .ismv for fragmented MP4], and PlayReady’s SystemID is documented for identifying protected files. [See Microsoft Learn on Smooth Streaming], [PlayReady header spec]. For legal context, review [LII’s summary of 17 U.S.C. 1201].

A quick macOS workflow: install tools, check for encryption, then remux if clear. Bento4 and GPAC are in Homebrew; FFmpeg handles stream selection and stream‑copy when no DRM is present. [Homebrew bento4 formula], [FFmpeg stream selection docs]. Use Bento4 to inspect: if mp4dump shows pssh with PlayReady SystemID 9a04f079-9840-4286-ab92-e65be0885f95 (or other protection boxes), it is encrypted; otherwise try a stream copy.

brew install ffmpeg gpac bento4
mp4info "video.ismv"
mp4dump --verbosity 3 "video.ismv" | grep -i -E "pssh|sinf|tenc|senc"
# If no DRM is indicated:
ffmpeg -i "video.ismv" -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c copy -movflags +faststart "output.mp4"
# Alternative:
MP4Box -add "video.ismv" -new "output.mp4"

References: IIS Smooth Streaming server manifest notes on .ismv, PlayReady header/SystemID, 17 U.S.C. 1201, Bento4 mp4dump, FFmpeg stream selection, Homebrew bento4.

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