play_url HTTP 500 error on tvOS 26.2 (regression of #2512)

[timtimtimtimtimtimtimtim]

Description

The play_url() function fails with pyatv.exceptions.HttpError when attempting to stream video to an Apple TV 4K running tvOS 26.2. This appears to be a regression of #2512, which was originally reported for tvOS 18.0 and fixed in v0.16.1.

Environment

• pyatv version: 0.17.0
• tvOS version: 26.2
• Device: Apple TV 4K (gen 3)
• Python version: 3.11
• Platform: macOS (Darwin 22.6.0)

Error

pyatv.exceptions.HttpError: HTTP/1.1 method GET failed with code 500: Internal Server Error

Full traceback:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File ".../pyatv/scripts/atvremote.py", line 998, in _run_application
    return await cli_handler(loop)
  File ".../pyatv/scripts/atvremote.py", line 727, in cli_handler
    return await _handle_commands(args, config, storage, loop)
  File ".../pyatv/scripts/atvremote.py", line 877, in _handle_commands
    ret = await _handle_device_command(args, cmd, atv, storage, loop)
  File ".../pyatv/scripts/atvremote.py", line 933, in _handle_device_command
    return await _exec_command(atv.stream, cmd, True, *cmd_args)
  File ".../pyatv/scripts/atvremote.py", line 965, in _exec_command
    value = await tmp(*args)
  File ".../pyatv/core/facade.py", line 375, in play_url
    await self.relay("play_url")(url, **kwargs)
  File ".../pyatv/protocols/airplay/__init__.py", line 137, in play_url
    return await self._play_task
  File ".../pyatv/protocols/airplay/player.py", line 68, in play_url
    await self._wait_for_media_to_end()
  File ".../pyatv/protocols/airplay/player.py", line 84, in _wait_for_media_to_end
    resp = await self.rtsp.connection.get("/playback-info")
  File ".../pyatv/support/http.py", line 422, in get
    return await self.send_and_receive("GET", path, allow_error=allow_error)
  File ".../pyatv/support/http.py", line 495, in send_and_receive
    raise exceptions.HttpError(
pyatv.exceptions.HttpError: HTTP/1.1 method GET failed with code 500: Internal Server Error

Steps to Reproduce

1. Pair with Apple TV running tvOS 26.2:

   atvremote --address <IP> --protocol airplay pair

2. Attempt to play any URL:

   atvremote --id <DEVICE_ID> --address <IP> play_url="https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/BigBuckBunny.mp4"

3. Error occurs immediately after playback attempt

Observations

• Device scan works: atvremote scan correctly finds the Apple TV
• Status check works: atvremote playing returns device state correctly
• Pairing is valid: Credentials are stored and other commands work
• Public URLs also fail: Tested with Google's Big Buck Bunny test video - same error
• Error location: Fails in _wait_for_media_to_end() when querying /playback-info

Relation to #2512

This is the same error as #2512 which was reported for tvOS 18.0. That issue was marked as completed, and v0.16.1 release notes mention "Connection issues with tvOS 18.4+" being addressed. However, tvOS 26.2 appears to have reintroduced the problem, likely due to further API changes by Apple.

Possible Cause

Apple may have changed the /playback-info RTSP endpoint behavior in tvOS 26.x, causing it to return HTTP 500 where it previously worked.

[jlacivita]

Fixed by this PR:
#2846

@postlund would you mind reviewing?