[ANN] get_iplayer search and PVR functions no longer work - no fix available

[Vangelis forthnet]

On Thu Oct 30 04:16:22 GMT 2014, I wrote:

> pid=b04mb4wk corresponds to a valid XML playlist,
> so GiP uses older subroutines for the download and tagging;
> this show can be recorded...
> but - as said - without an embedded thumbnail.
> ...
> if sub get_verpids_json is being used due to
> a "noitems" XML playlist, then the M4A tagging is more
> complete & with a thumbnail...

 I am looking at the valid (= no "noItems") XML playlist
of  radio show with PID=b04mbn19

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/playlist/b04mbn19

When I record this with 2.87 using:

get_iplayer --type=radio --pid=b04mbn19 --modes=flashaac --force --tag-podcast-radio

I end up with file

The_Official_Chart_Update_-_29_10_2014_b04mbn19_default.m4a

with no thumbnail and the "BBC iPlayer feeds are no longer..." junk
in the comment, lyrics & desc tag fields (this is old news...).
However, the XML playlist contains a link to the show's thumbnail

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/programmeimages/p01tnpvn/b04mbn19_640_360.jpg

and the "summary" entry could be used as a "descshort" equivalent
to populate the tag fields now filled with the junk.
I understand that GiP used to get the thumbnail and the metadata from
the now gone feeds, but if it could be told to parse the XML
playlist more fully (and not only for vPID) then we'd end up
with an embedded thumbnail and minimal but useful metadata.

 The same could be applied for JSON playlists with regards to
the metadata, as already "sub get_verpids_json" produces
"thumbnailed" audio files.
(In an experiment conducted locally, I "forced" the script
to use sub get_verpids_json even for recent radio files
with valid XML playlists and indeed the recorded files
had thumbnails in them - but I understand this is not the
way to go, while XML playlists are still present; or is it?
Oh, how I wish I could write code...

Vangelis.