# ESPN Video Downloader (`codingfrontend/espn-video-downloader`) Actor

Download and extract rich video metadata from Espn Video, supporting resolutions up to 4K. Scrapes titles, duration, channel information, view counts, likes, user comments, and subtitles. Built with complete proxy rotation and anti-bot bypass support.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/codingfrontend/espn-video-downloader.md
- **Developed by:** [Coding Frontned](https://apify.com/codingfrontend) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, Automation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $4.99 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## ESPN Video Downloader

Extract ESPN game highlight video metadata including direct MP4 download URLs and HLS stream links. Supports NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA, MLS, and major European soccer leagues.

### Features

- Fetches highlight videos from recent games
- Returns direct MP4 URLs (360p and 720p HD)
- HLS streaming URLs (M3U8) for video players
- Video metadata: headline, description, duration, thumbnail
- Game context: teams, date, league
- Geo-restriction info

### Input

| Field | Type | Default | Description |
|-------|------|---------|-------------|
| `league` | string | `nba` | League code (see options below) |
| `dates` | string | today | Date in YYYYMMDD format |
| `maxGames` | integer | 10 | Max games to include |
| `maxVideosPerGame` | integer | 5 | Max videos per game |
| `maxItems` | integer | 50 | Total max video items |

**Supported Leagues**: `nba`, `nfl`, `nhl`, `mlb`, `ncaaf`, `ncaab`, `mls`, `epl`, `laliga`, `bundesliga`, `seriea`, `ligue1`

### Output Fields

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `videoId` | ESPN video ID |
| `headline` | Video title |
| `description` | Video description |
| `duration` | Length in seconds |
| `gameName` | e.g. "Lakers at Warriors" |
| `gameDate` | ISO game date |
| `league` | League used |
| `thumbnailUrl` | Thumbnail image |
| `urls.mp4_360p` | Direct MP4 (360p) |
| `urls.mp4_720p` | Direct MP4 (720p HD) |
| `urls.hls` | HLS playlist (M3U8) |
| `urls.hls_hd` | HD HLS stream |
| `geoRestrictions` | Countries where video is restricted |
| `originalPublishDate` | ISO publish timestamp |

### Notes

- Uses ESPN's public site API — no authentication required.
- Videos are from game highlights (publicly accessible).
- Some videos may have geo-restrictions (e.g. US-only).
- Use the HLS URL with `ffmpeg` or a compatible video player to stream/download.

# Actor input Schema

## `league` (type: `string`):

Sports league to fetch highlight videos for.

## `dates` (type: `string`):

Date to fetch games for in YYYYMMDD format. Leave empty for today's games.

## `maxGames` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of games (events) to include.

## `maxVideosPerGame` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of video clips per game.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Total maximum number of video items to return.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "league": "nba",
  "dates": "20250516",
  "maxGames": 10,
  "maxVideosPerGame": 5,
  "maxItems": 50
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("codingfrontend/espn-video-downloader").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("codingfrontend/espn-video-downloader").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call codingfrontend/espn-video-downloader --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=codingfrontend/espn-video-downloader",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/EAcpFPubMVzhWFQJX/builds/TRo1H6oUWGUL4fCbG/openapi.json