diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/myfreecams.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/myfreecams.py
index 5ba019b89..08f3a34e6 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/myfreecams.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/myfreecams.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 import random
 import re
 import urllib.parse
@@ -105,24 +104,11 @@ def _websocket_data(self, username, chat_servers):
         return message, php_message
 
     def _get_camserver(self, servers, key):
-        server_type = None
-        value = None
-
-        h5video_servers = servers['h5video_servers']
-        ngvideo_servers = servers['ngvideo_servers']
-        wzobs_servers = servers['wzobs_servers']
-
-        if h5video_servers.get(str(key)):
-            value = h5video_servers[str(key)]
-            server_type = 'h5video_servers'
-        elif wzobs_servers.get(str(key)):
-            value = wzobs_servers[str(key)]
-            server_type = 'wzobs_servers'
-        elif ngvideo_servers.get(str(key)):
-            value = ngvideo_servers[str(key)]
-            server_type = 'ngvideo_servers'
-
-        return value, server_type
+        server_types = ['h5video_servers', 'wzobs_servers', 'ngvideo_servers']
+        for server_type in server_types:
+            if servers[server_type].get(str(key)):
+                return servers[server_type][str(key)], server_type
+        return None, None
 
     def _get_streams(self, url):
         self.video_id = self._match_id(url)
@@ -133,36 +119,33 @@ def _get_streams(self, url):
 
         message, php_message = self._websocket_data(self.video_id, chat_servers)
 
-        if self.video_id:
-            self.write_debug('Attempting to use WebSocket data')
-            data = self._dict_re.search(message)
-            if data is None:
-                raise ExtractorError('Could not find data in WebSocket message')
-            data = parse_json(data.group('data'))
+        self.write_debug('Attempting to use WebSocket data')
+        data = self._search_json(r'(\w+) (\w+) (\w+) (\w+) (\w+)', message, name='ws_data', video_id=self.video_id)
+        if not data:
+            raise ExtractorError('Could not find data in WebSocket message')
 
-        vs = data['vs']
-        ok_vs = [0, 90]
-        if vs not in ok_vs:
-            if vs == 2:
-                error = ('Model is currently away')
-            elif vs == 12:
-                error = ('Model is currently in a private show')
-            elif vs == 13:
-                error = ('Model is currently in a group show')
-            elif vs == 14:
-                error = ('Model is currently in a club show')
-            elif vs == 127:
-                error = ('Model is currently offline')
-            else:
-                error = (f'Stream status: {vs}')
-            raise ExtractorError(error, expected=True)
+        try:
+            vs = data['vs']
+            ok_vs = [0, 90]
+            if vs not in ok_vs:
+                error_messages = {
+                    2: 'Model is currently away',
+                    12: 'Model is currently in a private show',
+                    13: 'Model is currently in a group show',
+                    14: 'Model is currently in a club show',
+                    127: 'Model is currently offline',
+                }
+                error = error_messages.get(vs, f'Stream status: {vs}')
+                raise ExtractorError(error, expected=True)
 
-        self.write_debug(f'VS: {vs}')
+            self.write_debug(f'VS: {vs}')
 
-        nm = data['nm']
-        uid = data['uid']
-        uid_video = uid + 100000000
-        camserver = data['u']['camserv']
+            nm = data['nm']
+            uid = data['uid']
+            uid_video = uid + 100000000
+            camserver = data['u']['camserv']
+        except KeyError:
+            raise ExtractorError('Could not find required data in WebSocket message')
 
         server, server_type = self._get_camserver(servers, camserver)
 
@@ -198,33 +181,7 @@ def _get_streams(self, url):
         }
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
+        if not websockets:
+            raise ImportError('This extractor needs websockets installed')
         self.write_debug(self._get_streams(url=url))
         return self._get_streams(url=url)
-
-
-def _parse(parser, data, name, *args, **kwargs):
-    try:
-        parsed = parser(data, *args, **kwargs)
-    except Exception as err:
-        snippet = repr(data)
-        if len(snippet) > 35:
-            snippet = f'{snippet[:35]} ...'
-
-        raise ExtractorError(f'Unable to parse {name}: {err} ({snippet})')
-
-    return parsed
-
-
-def parse_json(
-    data,
-    name='JSON',
-    schema=None,
-    *args,
-    **kwargs,
-):
-    """Wrapper around json.loads.
-
-    Provides these extra features:
-     - Wraps errors in custom exception with a snippet of the data in the message
-    """
-    return _parse(*args, **kwargs, parser=json.loads, data=data, name=name)