yt-dlp VS youtube-dl-server

https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp (or use https://github.com/oleksis/youtube-dl-gui if you want a GUI)

Switching to yt-dlp might be difficult if you are not accustomed to using and configuring a command-line, but if you can invest the time, yt-dlp is highly configurable and can solve many issues like what you describe.

https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp (or use https://github.com/oleksis/youtube-dl-gui if you want a GUI), then download the latest n5.1 (non-shared) zip for your platform (e.g. win64) from https://github.com/yt-dlp/FFmpeg-Builds and extract the 3 executables from the bin folder to the same folder as your yt-dlp executable.

If this is all too technical for you, or you just want to err on the side of caution, you could use direct download sites. These are websites that let you download all of the stuff directly from their servers to your computer, that way you are safe from law enforcement. You mentioned that you used to stream your shows on some websites? With a program like yt-dlp you can copy the files directly from these sites.

If you're on a computer use yt-dlp, if you're on android use NewPipe. No idea about ios.

You can install yt-dlp using the binaries, PIP or one using a third-party package manager. See the wiki for detailed instructions

I use a youtube-dl-server fork which has the yt-dlp as option with nbr23/youtube-dl-server:yt-dlp

Not quite the same idea/feel, but I've been using youtube-dl-server for some time. It supports/has yt-dlp as an option. if anyone is just looking for similar projects in general.

Or better yet, just host something like youtube-dl-server.

If it's something I'll be watching in Plex, I use a docker container running youtube-dl-server+youtube-dl to import it. I have an identical container set up for my SO so she can add her own stuff into her Plex libraries. I'll eventually be swapping out youtube-dl for yt-dlp in these containers.