[Bug]: Videos from some channels enter SABR loop

[BitSynKed]

Guidelines

• I have encountered this bug in the latest release of FreeTube.
• I have encountered this bug in the official downloads of FreeTube. The only official downloads are from the https://freetubeapp.io website, the FreeTubeApp/FreeTube GitHub repository and the io.freetubeapp.FreeTube flatpak from Flathub.
• I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the bug report I want to file, without success.
• I have searched the documentation for information that matches the description of the bug I want to file, without success.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and agree to follow the rules.

Describe the bug

I've found for a while now that a couple channels I watch (Donut and their spin off channel RealMechanicStuff) all start videos with 16 or sometimes 24 second SABR backoff times. When the timer runs down it reloads with the same long backoff timer. Once in a while the video will play after some reloads, but often it just keeps reloading without playing even after like 5+ minutes.
I didn't use to have these SABR problems with these channels, so something changed. I'm not sure if its something with the channels changing how they have their videos set up.

Expected Behavior

For the videos of these channels to start playing within a couple reloads.

Issue Labels

content not loading

FreeTube Version

v0.24.0-nightly-7365

Operating System Version

Macos 26.5

Installation Method

.dmg

Primary API used

Local API

Last Known Working FreeTube Version (If Any)

No response

Upload screenshots or videos

Screenshot 2026-05-24 at 9.25.45 PM.png

Additional Information

The included screenshot is from a video that did eventually start playing after several minutes of reloads.

Nightly Build

• I have encountered this bug in the latest official nightly build, do not check this box if you are using an unofficial or custom build.

[hunterpankey]

I have this issue with the Secret Base channel (UCDRmGMSgrtZkOsh_NQl4_xw). My issue started about three weeks ago, +/- a few days. I'm on the v0.24.0 release version on MacOS 15.7.3.

[drigotav]

Try to disconnect CloudFlare if you're using it. In my case it works.

[dennbenn73]

Try to disconnect CloudFlare if you're using it. In my case it works.

I use cloudflared DoH for my Pi-hole. Are you saying we're supposed to use a different DNS provider? Disabling Pi-hole is not an option that I will consider. These two videos are a never-ending SABR loop: https://youtu.be/BC4RZE8a7vM, https://youtu.be/Aoc-s-_84Ig on v0.24.0 Beta.