diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 170a6ac19..910c409ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
 
     # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
     - name: Initialize CodeQL
-      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
       with:
         languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
         # If you wish to specify custom queries, you can do so here or in a config file.
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
     # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages (C/C++, C#, Go, Java, or Swift).
     # If this step fails, then you should remove it and run the build manually (see below)
     - name: Autobuild
-      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v3
 
     # ℹ️ Command-line programs to run using the OS shell.
     # 📚 See https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions#jobsjob_idstepsrun
@@ -60,6 +60,6 @@ jobs:
     #     ./location_of_script_within_repo/buildscript.sh
 
     - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3
       with:
         category: "/language:${{matrix.language}}"
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS b/CONTRIBUTORS
index 7376b1801..0b90c0e6c 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTORS
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS
@@ -736,3 +736,9 @@ NecroRomnt
 pjrobertson
 subsense
 test20140
+arantius
+entourage8
+lfavole
+mp3butcher
+slipinthedove
+YoshiTabletopGamer
diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 3232c158b..9c544feb9 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -4,6 +4,49 @@ # Changelog
 # To create a release, dispatch the https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/actions/workflows/release.yml workflow on master
 -->
 
+### 2025.02.19
+
+#### Core changes
+- **jsinterp**
+    - [Add `js_number_to_string`](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/0d9f061d38c3a4da61972e2adad317079f2f1c84) ([#12110](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12110)) by [Grub4K](https://github.com/Grub4K)
+    - [Improve zeroise](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/4ca8c44a073d5aa3a3e3112c35b2b23d6ce25ac6) ([#12313](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12313)) by [seproDev](https://github.com/seproDev)
+
+#### Extractor changes
+- **acast**: [Support shows.acast.com URLs](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/57c717fee4bfbc9309845bbb48901b72e4b69304) ([#12223](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12223)) by [barsnick](https://github.com/barsnick)
+- **cwtv**
+    - [Fix extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/18a28514e306e822eab4f3a79c76d515bf076406) ([#12207](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12207)) by [arantius](https://github.com/arantius)
+    - movie: [Add extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/03c3d705778c07739e0034b51490877cffdc0983) ([#12227](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12227)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+- **digiview**: [Add extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/f53553087d3fde9dcd61d6e9f98caf09db1d8ef2) ([#9902](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/9902)) by [lfavole](https://github.com/lfavole)
+- **dropbox**: [Fix extraction](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/861aeec449c8f3c062d962945b234ff0341f61f3) ([#12228](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12228)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+- **francetv**
+    - site
+        - [Fix extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/817483ccc68aed6049ed9c4a2ffae44ca82d2b1c) ([#12236](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12236)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+        - [Fix livestream extraction](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/1295bbedd45fa8d9bc3f7a194864ae280297848e) ([#12316](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12316)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+- **francetvinfo.fr**: [Fix extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/5c4c2ddfaa47988b4d50c1ad4988badc0b4f30c2) ([#12402](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12402)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+- **gem.cbc.ca**: [Fix extractors](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/5271ef48c6f61c145e03e18e960995d2e651d205) ([#12404](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12404)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly), [dirkf](https://github.com/dirkf)
+- **generic**: [Extract `live_status` for DASH manifest URLs](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/19edaa44fcd375f54e63d6227b092f5252d3e889) ([#12256](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12256)) by [mp3butcher](https://github.com/mp3butcher)
+- **globo**: [Fix extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/f8d0161455f00add65585ca1a476a7b5d56f5f96) ([#11795](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/11795)) by [slipinthedove](https://github.com/slipinthedove), [YoshiTabletopGamer](https://github.com/YoshiTabletopGamer)
+- **goplay**: [Fix extractor](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/d59f14a0a7a8b55e6bf468237def62b73ab4a517) ([#12237](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12237)) by [alard](https://github.com/alard)
+- **pbs**: [Support www.thirteen.org URLs](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/9fb8ab2ff67fb699f60cce09163a580976e90c0e) ([#11191](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/11191)) by [rohieb](https://github.com/rohieb)
+- **reddit**: [Bypass gated subreddit warning](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/6ca23ffaa4663cb552f937f0b1e9769b66db11bd) ([#12335](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12335)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+- **twitter**: [Fix syndication token generation](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/14cd7f3443c6da4d49edaefcc12da9dee86e243e) ([#12107](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12107)) by [Grub4K](https://github.com/Grub4K), [pjrobertson](https://github.com/pjrobertson)
+- **youtube**
+    - [Retry on more critical requests](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/d48e612609d012abbea3785be4d26d78a014abb2) ([#12339](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12339)) by [coletdjnz](https://github.com/coletdjnz)
+    - [nsig workaround for `tce` player JS](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/ec17fb16e8d69d4e3e10fb73bf3221be8570dfee) ([#12401](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12401)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+- **zdf**: [Extract more metadata](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/241ace4f104d50fdf7638f9203927aefcf57a1f7) ([#9565](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/9565)) by [StefanLobbenmeier](https://github.com/StefanLobbenmeier) (With fixes in [e7882b6](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/e7882b682b959e476d8454911655b3e9b14c79b2) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly))
+
+#### Downloader changes
+- **hls**
+    - [Fix `BYTERANGE` logic](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/10b7ff68e98f17655e31952f6e17120b2d7dda96) ([#11972](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/11972)) by [entourage8](https://github.com/entourage8)
+    - [Support `--write-pages` for m3u8 media playlists](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/be69468752ff598cacee57bb80533deab2367a5d) ([#12333](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12333)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+    - [Support `hls_media_playlist_data` format field](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/c987be0acb6872c6561f28aa28171e803393d851) ([#12322](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12322)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
+
+#### Misc. changes
+- [Improve Issue/PR templates](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/517ddf3c3f12560ab93e3d36244dc82db9f97818) ([#11499](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/11499)) by [seproDev](https://github.com/seproDev) (With fixes in [4ecb833](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/4ecb833472c90e078567b561fb7c089f1aa9587b) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly))
+- **cleanup**: Miscellaneous: [4985a40](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/4985a4041770eaa0016271809a1fd950dc809a55) by [dirkf](https://github.com/dirkf), [Grub4K](https://github.com/Grub4K), [StefanLobbenmeier](https://github.com/StefanLobbenmeier)
+- **docs**: [Add note to `supportedsites.md`](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/01a63629a21781458dcbd38779898e117678f5ff) ([#12382](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12382)) by [seproDev](https://github.com/seproDev)
+- **test**: download: [Validate and sort info dict fields](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/208163447408c78673b08c172beafe5c310fb167) ([#12299](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12299)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly), [pzhlkj6612](https://github.com/pzhlkj6612)
+
 ### 2025.01.26
 
 #### Core changes
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 592468020..634cff5a5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -337,10 +337,11 @@ ## General Options:
     --plugin-dirs PATH              Path to an additional directory to search
                                     for plugins. This option can be used
                                     multiple times to add multiple directories.
-                                    Note that this currently only works for
-                                    extractor plugins; postprocessor plugins can
-                                    only be loaded from the default plugin
-                                    directories
+                                    Use "default" to search the default plugin
+                                    directories (default)
+    --no-plugin-dirs                Clear plugin directories to search,
+                                    including defaults and those provided by
+                                    previous --plugin-dirs
     --flat-playlist                 Do not extract a playlist's URL result
                                     entries; some entry metadata may be missing
                                     and downloading may be bypassed
@@ -1525,7 +1526,7 @@ ## Sorting Formats
  - `hasvid`: Gives priority to formats that have a video stream
  - `hasaud`: Gives priority to formats that have an audio stream
  - `ie_pref`: The format preference
- - `lang`: The language preference
+ - `lang`: The language preference as determined by the extractor (e.g. original language preferred over audio description)
  - `quality`: The quality of the format
  - `source`: The preference of the source
  - `proto`: Protocol used for download (`https`/`ftps` > `http`/`ftp` > `m3u8_native`/`m3u8` > `http_dash_segments`> `websocket_frag` > `mms`/`rtsp` > `f4f`/`f4m`)
diff --git a/devscripts/make_lazy_extractors.py b/devscripts/make_lazy_extractors.py
index d288d8429..0ce773e82 100644
--- a/devscripts/make_lazy_extractors.py
+++ b/devscripts/make_lazy_extractors.py
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 from inspect import getsource
 
 from devscripts.utils import get_filename_args, read_file, write_file
+from yt_dlp.extractor import import_extractors
+from yt_dlp.extractor.common import InfoExtractor, SearchInfoExtractor
+from yt_dlp.globals import extractors
 
 NO_ATTR = object()
 STATIC_CLASS_PROPERTIES = [
@@ -38,8 +41,7 @@ def main():
 
     lazy_extractors_filename = get_filename_args(default_outfile='yt_dlp/extractor/lazy_extractors.py')
 
-    from yt_dlp.extractor.extractors import _ALL_CLASSES
-    from yt_dlp.extractor.common import InfoExtractor, SearchInfoExtractor
+    import_extractors()
 
     DummyInfoExtractor = type('InfoExtractor', (InfoExtractor,), {'IE_NAME': NO_ATTR})
     module_src = '\n'.join((
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ def main():
         '    _module = None',
         *extra_ie_code(DummyInfoExtractor),
         '\nclass LazyLoadSearchExtractor(LazyLoadExtractor):\n    pass\n',
-        *build_ies(_ALL_CLASSES, (InfoExtractor, SearchInfoExtractor), DummyInfoExtractor),
+        *build_ies(list(extractors.value.values()), (InfoExtractor, SearchInfoExtractor), DummyInfoExtractor),
     ))
 
     write_file(lazy_extractors_filename, f'{module_src}\n')
@@ -73,7 +75,7 @@ def build_ies(ies, bases, attr_base):
         if ie in ies:
             names.append(ie.__name__)
 
-    yield f'\n_ALL_CLASSES = [{", ".join(names)}]'
+    yield '\n_CLASS_LOOKUP = {%s}' % ', '.join(f'{name!r}: {name}' for name in names)
 
 
 def sort_ies(ies, ignored_bases):
diff --git a/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py b/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py
index 01548ef97..145f6d47f 100644
--- a/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py
+++ b/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py
@@ -10,10 +10,21 @@
 from devscripts.utils import get_filename_args, write_file
 from yt_dlp.extractor import list_extractor_classes
 
+TEMPLATE = '''\
+# Supported sites
+
+Below is a list of all extractors that are currently included with yt-dlp.
+If a site is not listed here, it might still be supported by yt-dlp's embed extraction or generic extractor.
+Not all sites listed here are guaranteed to work; websites are constantly changing and sometimes this breaks yt-dlp's support for them.
+The only reliable way to check if a site is supported is to try it.
+
+{ie_list}
+'''
+
 
 def main():
     out = '\n'.join(ie.description() for ie in list_extractor_classes() if ie.IE_DESC is not False)
-    write_file(get_filename_args(), f'# Supported sites\n{out}\n')
+    write_file(get_filename_args(), TEMPLATE.format(ie_list=out))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/devscripts/run_tests.py b/devscripts/run_tests.py
index eb614fe59..ebb3500b6 100755
--- a/devscripts/run_tests.py
+++ b/devscripts/run_tests.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ def parse_args():
 
 
 def run_tests(*tests, pattern=None, ci=False):
-    run_core = 'core' in tests or (not pattern and not tests)
+    # XXX: hatch uses `tests` if no arguments are passed
+    run_core = 'core' in tests or 'tests' in tests or (not pattern and not tests)
     run_download = 'download' in tests
 
     pytest_args = args.pytest_args or os.getenv('HATCH_TEST_ARGS', '')
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 5eb9a9644..2a0008a45 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ select = [
     "W391",
     "W504",
 ]
+exclude = "*/extractor/lazy_extractors.py,*venv*,*/test/testdata/sigs/player-*.js,.idea,.vscode"
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 addopts = "-ra -v --strict-markers"
diff --git a/supportedsites.md b/supportedsites.md
index 70909ef00..0924c88ff 100644
--- a/supportedsites.md
+++ b/supportedsites.md
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 # Supported sites
+
+Below is a list of all extractors that are currently included with yt-dlp.
+If a site is not listed here, it might still be supported by yt-dlp's embed extraction or generic extractor.
+Not all sites listed here are guaranteed to work; websites are constantly changing and sometimes this breaks yt-dlp's support for them.
+The only reliable way to check if a site is supported is to try it.
+
  - **17live**
  - **17live:clip**
  - **1News**: 1news.co.nz article videos
@@ -314,7 +320,8 @@ # Supported sites
  - **curiositystream**: [*curiositystream*](## "netrc machine")
  - **curiositystream:collections**: [*curiositystream*](## "netrc machine")
  - **curiositystream:series**: [*curiositystream*](## "netrc machine")
- - **CWTV**
+ - **cwtv**
+ - **cwtv:movie**
  - **Cybrary**: [*cybrary*](## "netrc machine")
  - **CybraryCourse**: [*cybrary*](## "netrc machine")
  - **DacastPlaylist**
@@ -349,6 +356,7 @@ # Supported sites
  - **DigitalConcertHall**: [*digitalconcerthall*](## "netrc machine") DigitalConcertHall extractor
  - **DigitallySpeaking**
  - **Digiteka**
+ - **Digiview**
  - **DiscogsReleasePlaylist**
  - **DiscoveryLife**
  - **DiscoveryNetworksDe**
@@ -465,9 +473,9 @@ # Supported sites
  - **fptplay**: fptplay.vn
  - **FranceCulture**
  - **FranceInter**
- - **FranceTV**
+ - **francetv**
+ - **francetv:site**
  - **francetvinfo.fr**
- - **FranceTVSite**
  - **Freesound**
  - **freespeech.org**
  - **freetv:series**
@@ -499,7 +507,7 @@ # Supported sites
  - **GediDigital**
  - **gem.cbc.ca**: [*cbcgem*](## "netrc machine")
  - **gem.cbc.ca:live**
- - **gem.cbc.ca:playlist**
+ - **gem.cbc.ca:playlist**: [*cbcgem*](## "netrc machine")
  - **Genius**
  - **GeniusLyrics**
  - **Germanupa**: germanupa.de
diff --git a/test/helper.py b/test/helper.py
index 193019019..4169af799 100644
--- a/test/helper.py
+++ b/test/helper.py
@@ -101,87 +101,109 @@ def getwebpagetestcases():
 md5 = lambda s: hashlib.md5(s.encode()).hexdigest()
 
 
-def expect_value(self, got, expected, field):
-    if isinstance(expected, str) and expected.startswith('re:'):
-        match_str = expected[len('re:'):]
-        match_rex = re.compile(match_str)
+def _iter_differences(got, expected, field):
+    if isinstance(expected, str):
+        op, _, val = expected.partition(':')
+        if op in ('mincount', 'maxcount', 'count'):
+            if not isinstance(got, (list, dict)):
+                yield field, f'expected either {list.__name__} or {dict.__name__}, got {type(got).__name__}'
+                return
 
-        self.assertTrue(
-            isinstance(got, str),
-            f'Expected a {str.__name__} object, but got {type(got).__name__} for field {field}')
-        self.assertTrue(
-            match_rex.match(got),
-            f'field {field} (value: {got!r}) should match {match_str!r}')
-    elif isinstance(expected, str) and expected.startswith('startswith:'):
-        start_str = expected[len('startswith:'):]
-        self.assertTrue(
-            isinstance(got, str),
-            f'Expected a {str.__name__} object, but got {type(got).__name__} for field {field}')
-        self.assertTrue(
-            got.startswith(start_str),
-            f'field {field} (value: {got!r}) should start with {start_str!r}')
-    elif isinstance(expected, str) and expected.startswith('contains:'):
-        contains_str = expected[len('contains:'):]
-        self.assertTrue(
-            isinstance(got, str),
-            f'Expected a {str.__name__} object, but got {type(got).__name__} for field {field}')
-        self.assertTrue(
-            contains_str in got,
-            f'field {field} (value: {got!r}) should contain {contains_str!r}')
-    elif isinstance(expected, type):
-        self.assertTrue(
-            isinstance(got, expected),
-            f'Expected type {expected!r} for field {field}, but got value {got!r} of type {type(got)!r}')
-    elif isinstance(expected, dict) and isinstance(got, dict):
-        expect_dict(self, got, expected)
-    elif isinstance(expected, list) and isinstance(got, list):
-        self.assertEqual(
-            len(expected), len(got),
-            f'Expect a list of length {len(expected)}, but got a list of length {len(got)} for field {field}')
-        for index, (item_got, item_expected) in enumerate(zip(got, expected)):
-            type_got = type(item_got)
-            type_expected = type(item_expected)
-            self.assertEqual(
-                type_expected, type_got,
-                f'Type mismatch for list item at index {index} for field {field}, '
-                f'expected {type_expected!r}, got {type_got!r}')
-            expect_value(self, item_got, item_expected, field)
-    else:
-        if isinstance(expected, str) and expected.startswith('md5:'):
-            self.assertTrue(
-                isinstance(got, str),
-                f'Expected field {field} to be a unicode object, but got value {got!r} of type {type(got)!r}')
-            got = 'md5:' + md5(got)
-        elif isinstance(expected, str) and re.match(r'^(?:min|max)?count:\d+', expected):
-            self.assertTrue(
-                isinstance(got, (list, dict)),
-                f'Expected field {field} to be a list or a dict, but it is of type {type(got).__name__}')
-            op, _, expected_num = expected.partition(':')
-            expected_num = int(expected_num)
+            expected_num = int(val)
+            got_num = len(got)
             if op == 'mincount':
-                assert_func = assertGreaterEqual
-                msg_tmpl = 'Expected %d items in field %s, but only got %d'
-            elif op == 'maxcount':
-                assert_func = assertLessEqual
-                msg_tmpl = 'Expected maximum %d items in field %s, but got %d'
-            elif op == 'count':
-                assert_func = assertEqual
-                msg_tmpl = 'Expected exactly %d items in field %s, but got %d'
-            else:
-                assert False
-            assert_func(
-                self, len(got), expected_num,
-                msg_tmpl % (expected_num, field, len(got)))
+                if got_num < expected_num:
+                    yield field, f'expected at least {val} items, got {got_num}'
+                return
+
+            if op == 'maxcount':
+                if got_num > expected_num:
+                    yield field, f'expected at most {val} items, got {got_num}'
+                return
+
+            assert op == 'count'
+            if got_num != expected_num:
+                yield field, f'expected exactly {val} items, got {got_num}'
             return
-        self.assertEqual(
-            expected, got,
-            f'Invalid value for field {field}, expected {expected!r}, got {got!r}')
+
+        if not isinstance(got, str):
+            yield field, f'expected {str.__name__}, got {type(got).__name__}'
+            return
+
+        if op == 're':
+            if not re.match(val, got):
+                yield field, f'should match {val!r}, got {got!r}'
+            return
+
+        if op == 'startswith':
+            if not val.startswith(got):
+                yield field, f'should start with {val!r}, got {got!r}'
+            return
+
+        if op == 'contains':
+            if not val.startswith(got):
+                yield field, f'should contain {val!r}, got {got!r}'
+            return
+
+        if op == 'md5':
+            hash_val = md5(got)
+            if hash_val != val:
+                yield field, f'expected hash {val}, got {hash_val}'
+            return
+
+        if got != expected:
+            yield field, f'expected {expected!r}, got {got!r}'
+        return
+
+    if isinstance(expected, dict) and isinstance(got, dict):
+        for key, expected_val in expected.items():
+            if key not in got:
+                yield field, f'missing key: {key!r}'
+                continue
+
+            field_name = key if field is None else f'{field}.{key}'
+            yield from _iter_differences(got[key], expected_val, field_name)
+        return
+
+    if isinstance(expected, type):
+        if not isinstance(got, expected):
+            yield field, f'expected {expected.__name__}, got {type(got).__name__}'
+        return
+
+    if isinstance(expected, list) and isinstance(got, list):
+        # TODO: clever diffing algorithm lmao
+        if len(expected) != len(got):
+            yield field, f'expected length of {len(expected)}, got {len(got)}'
+            return
+
+        for index, (got_val, expected_val) in enumerate(zip(got, expected)):
+            field_name = str(index) if field is None else f'{field}.{index}'
+            yield from _iter_differences(got_val, expected_val, field_name)
+        return
+
+    if got != expected:
+        yield field, f'expected {expected!r}, got {got!r}'
+
+
+def _expect_value(message, got, expected, field):
+    mismatches = list(_iter_differences(got, expected, field))
+    if not mismatches:
+        return
+
+    fields = [field for field, _ in mismatches if field is not None]
+    return ''.join((
+        message, f' ({", ".join(fields)})' if fields else '',
+        *(f'\n\t{field}: {message}' for field, message in mismatches)))
+
+
+def expect_value(self, got, expected, field):
+    if message := _expect_value('values differ', got, expected, field):
+        self.fail(message)
 
 
 def expect_dict(self, got_dict, expected_dict):
-    for info_field, expected in expected_dict.items():
-        got = got_dict.get(info_field)
-        expect_value(self, got, expected, info_field)
+    if message := _expect_value('dictionaries differ', got_dict, expected_dict, None):
+        self.fail(message)
 
 
 def sanitize_got_info_dict(got_dict):
diff --git a/test/test_YoutubeDL.py b/test/test_YoutubeDL.py
index 17e081bc6..708a04f92 100644
--- a/test/test_YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/test/test_YoutubeDL.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 import unittest
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
+from yt_dlp.globals import all_plugins_loaded
+
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
 
 
@@ -1427,6 +1429,12 @@ def check_for_cookie_header(result):
         self.assertFalse(result.get('cookies'), msg='Cookies set in cookies field for wrong domain')
         self.assertFalse(ydl.cookiejar.get_cookie_header(fmt['url']), msg='Cookies set in cookiejar for wrong domain')
 
+    def test_load_plugins_compat(self):
+        # Should try to reload plugins if they haven't already been loaded
+        all_plugins_loaded.value = False
+        FakeYDL().close()
+        assert all_plugins_loaded.value
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/test_plugins.py b/test/test_plugins.py
index 77545d136..195726b18 100644
--- a/test/test_plugins.py
+++ b/test/test_plugins.py
@@ -10,22 +10,71 @@
 sys.path.append(str(TEST_DATA_DIR))
 importlib.invalidate_caches()
 
-from yt_dlp.utils import Config
-from yt_dlp.plugins import PACKAGE_NAME, directories, load_plugins
+from yt_dlp.plugins import (
+    PACKAGE_NAME,
+    PluginSpec,
+    directories,
+    load_plugins,
+    load_all_plugins,
+    register_plugin_spec,
+)
+
+from yt_dlp.globals import (
+    extractors,
+    postprocessors,
+    plugin_dirs,
+    plugin_ies,
+    plugin_pps,
+    all_plugins_loaded,
+    plugin_specs,
+)
+
+
+EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC = PluginSpec(
+    module_name='extractor',
+    suffix='IE',
+    destination=extractors,
+    plugin_destination=plugin_ies,
+)
+
+POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC = PluginSpec(
+    module_name='postprocessor',
+    suffix='PP',
+    destination=postprocessors,
+    plugin_destination=plugin_pps,
+)
+
+
+def reset_plugins():
+    plugin_ies.value = {}
+    plugin_pps.value = {}
+    plugin_dirs.value = ['default']
+    plugin_specs.value = {}
+    all_plugins_loaded.value = False
+    # Clearing override plugins is probably difficult
+    for module_name in tuple(sys.modules):
+        for plugin_type in ('extractor', 'postprocessor'):
+            if module_name.startswith(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.{plugin_type}.'):
+                del sys.modules[module_name]
+
+    importlib.invalidate_caches()
 
 
 class TestPlugins(unittest.TestCase):
 
     TEST_PLUGIN_DIR = TEST_DATA_DIR / PACKAGE_NAME
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        reset_plugins()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        reset_plugins()
+
     def test_directories_containing_plugins(self):
         self.assertIn(self.TEST_PLUGIN_DIR, map(Path, directories()))
 
     def test_extractor_classes(self):
-        for module_name in tuple(sys.modules):
-            if module_name.startswith(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor'):
-                del sys.modules[module_name]
-        plugins_ie = load_plugins('extractor', 'IE')
+        plugins_ie = load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
 
         self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
         self.assertIn('NormalPluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
@@ -35,17 +84,29 @@ def test_extractor_classes(self):
             f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor._ignore' in sys.modules,
             'loaded module beginning with underscore')
         self.assertNotIn('IgnorePluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn('IgnorePluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
 
         # Don't load extractors with underscore prefix
         self.assertNotIn('_IgnoreUnderscorePluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn('_IgnoreUnderscorePluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
 
         # Don't load extractors not specified in __all__ (if supplied)
         self.assertNotIn('IgnoreNotInAllPluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn('IgnoreNotInAllPluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
         self.assertIn('InAllPluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+        self.assertIn('InAllPluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
+
+        # Don't load override extractors
+        self.assertNotIn('OverrideGenericIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn('OverrideGenericIE', plugin_ies.value)
+        self.assertNotIn('_UnderscoreOverrideGenericIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn('_UnderscoreOverrideGenericIE', plugin_ies.value)
 
     def test_postprocessor_classes(self):
-        plugins_pp = load_plugins('postprocessor', 'PP')
+        plugins_pp = load_plugins(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
         self.assertIn('NormalPluginPP', plugins_pp.keys())
+        self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+        self.assertIn('NormalPluginPP', plugin_pps.value)
 
     def test_importing_zipped_module(self):
         zip_path = TEST_DATA_DIR / 'zipped_plugins.zip'
@@ -58,10 +119,10 @@ def test_importing_zipped_module(self):
                 package = importlib.import_module(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.{plugin_type}')
                 self.assertIn(zip_path / PACKAGE_NAME / plugin_type, map(Path, package.__path__))
 
-            plugins_ie = load_plugins('extractor', 'IE')
+            plugins_ie = load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
             self.assertIn('ZippedPluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
 
-            plugins_pp = load_plugins('postprocessor', 'PP')
+            plugins_pp = load_plugins(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
             self.assertIn('ZippedPluginPP', plugins_pp.keys())
 
         finally:
@@ -69,23 +130,116 @@ def test_importing_zipped_module(self):
             os.remove(zip_path)
             importlib.invalidate_caches()  # reset the import caches
 
-    def test_plugin_dirs(self):
-        # Internal plugin dirs hack for CLI --plugin-dirs
-        # To be replaced with proper system later
-        custom_plugin_dir = TEST_DATA_DIR / 'plugin_packages'
-        Config._plugin_dirs = [str(custom_plugin_dir)]
-        importlib.invalidate_caches()  # reset the import caches
+    def test_reloading_plugins(self):
+        reload_plugins_path = TEST_DATA_DIR / 'reload_plugins'
+        load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        load_plugins(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
 
+        # Remove default folder and add reload_plugin path
+        sys.path.remove(str(TEST_DATA_DIR))
+        sys.path.append(str(reload_plugins_path))
+        importlib.invalidate_caches()
         try:
-            package = importlib.import_module(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor')
-            self.assertIn(custom_plugin_dir / 'testpackage' / PACKAGE_NAME / 'extractor', map(Path, package.__path__))
+            for plugin_type in ('extractor', 'postprocessor'):
+                package = importlib.import_module(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.{plugin_type}')
+                self.assertIn(reload_plugins_path / PACKAGE_NAME / plugin_type, map(Path, package.__path__))
 
-            plugins_ie = load_plugins('extractor', 'IE')
-            self.assertIn('PackagePluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+            plugins_ie = load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+            self.assertIn('NormalPluginIE', plugins_ie.keys())
+            self.assertTrue(
+                plugins_ie['NormalPluginIE'].REPLACED,
+                msg='Reloading has not replaced original extractor plugin')
+            self.assertTrue(
+                extractors.value['NormalPluginIE'].REPLACED,
+                msg='Reloading has not replaced original extractor plugin globally')
+
+            plugins_pp = load_plugins(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+            self.assertIn('NormalPluginPP', plugins_pp.keys())
+            self.assertTrue(plugins_pp['NormalPluginPP'].REPLACED,
+                            msg='Reloading has not replaced original postprocessor plugin')
+            self.assertTrue(
+                postprocessors.value['NormalPluginPP'].REPLACED,
+                msg='Reloading has not replaced original postprocessor plugin globally')
 
         finally:
-            Config._plugin_dirs = []
-            importlib.invalidate_caches()  # reset the import caches
+            sys.path.remove(str(reload_plugins_path))
+            sys.path.append(str(TEST_DATA_DIR))
+            importlib.invalidate_caches()
+
+    def test_extractor_override_plugin(self):
+        load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+
+        from yt_dlp.extractor.generic import GenericIE
+
+        self.assertEqual(GenericIE.TEST_FIELD, 'override')
+        self.assertEqual(GenericIE.SECONDARY_TEST_FIELD, 'underscore-override')
+
+        self.assertEqual(GenericIE.IE_NAME, 'generic+override+underscore-override')
+        importlib.invalidate_caches()
+        #  test that loading a second time doesn't wrap a second time
+        load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        from yt_dlp.extractor.generic import GenericIE
+        self.assertEqual(GenericIE.IE_NAME, 'generic+override+underscore-override')
+
+    def test_load_all_plugin_types(self):
+
+        # no plugin specs registered
+        load_all_plugins()
+
+        self.assertNotIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+
+        register_plugin_spec(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        register_plugin_spec(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        load_all_plugins()
+        self.assertTrue(all_plugins_loaded.value)
+
+        self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+        self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+
+    def test_no_plugin_dirs(self):
+        register_plugin_spec(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        register_plugin_spec(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+
+        plugin_dirs.value = []
+        load_all_plugins()
+
+        self.assertNotIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+        self.assertNotIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
+
+    def test_set_plugin_dirs(self):
+        custom_plugin_dir = str(TEST_DATA_DIR / 'plugin_packages')
+        plugin_dirs.value = [custom_plugin_dir]
+
+        load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+
+        self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.package', sys.modules.keys())
+        self.assertIn('PackagePluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
+
+    def test_invalid_plugin_dir(self):
+        plugin_dirs.value = ['invalid_dir']
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+
+    def test_append_plugin_dirs(self):
+        custom_plugin_dir = str(TEST_DATA_DIR / 'plugin_packages')
+
+        self.assertEqual(plugin_dirs.value, ['default'])
+        plugin_dirs.value.append(custom_plugin_dir)
+        self.assertEqual(plugin_dirs.value, ['default', custom_plugin_dir])
+
+        load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+
+        self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.package', sys.modules.keys())
+        self.assertIn('PackagePluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
+
+    def test_get_plugin_spec(self):
+        register_plugin_spec(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        register_plugin_spec(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+
+        self.assertEqual(plugin_specs.value.get('extractor'), EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        self.assertEqual(plugin_specs.value.get('postprocessor'), POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
+        self.assertIsNone(plugin_specs.value.get('invalid'))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/test/testdata/plugin_packages/testpackage/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/package.py b/test/testdata/plugin_packages/testpackage/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/package.py
index b860300d8..39020fef9 100644
--- a/test/testdata/plugin_packages/testpackage/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/package.py
+++ b/test/testdata/plugin_packages/testpackage/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/package.py
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 
 
 class PackagePluginIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _VALID_URL = 'package'
     pass
diff --git a/test/testdata/reload_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py b/test/testdata/reload_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6b927077f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/testdata/reload_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from yt_dlp.extractor.common import InfoExtractor
+
+
+class NormalPluginIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _VALID_URL = 'normal'
+    REPLACED = True
+
+
+class _IgnoreUnderscorePluginIE(InfoExtractor):
+    pass
diff --git a/test/testdata/reload_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py b/test/testdata/reload_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e44ba2b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/testdata/reload_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from yt_dlp.postprocessor.common import PostProcessor
+
+
+class NormalPluginPP(PostProcessor):
+    REPLACED = True
diff --git a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/ignore.py b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/ignore.py
index 816a16aa2..dca111a37 100644
--- a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/ignore.py
+++ b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/ignore.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ class IgnoreNotInAllPluginIE(InfoExtractor):
 
 
 class InAllPluginIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _VALID_URL = 'inallpluginie'
     pass
 
 
diff --git a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py
index b09009bdc..996b2936f 100644
--- a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py
+++ b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/normal.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 
 class NormalPluginIE(InfoExtractor):
-    pass
+    _VALID_URL = 'normalpluginie'
+    REPLACED = False
 
 
 class _IgnoreUnderscorePluginIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _VALID_URL = 'ignoreunderscorepluginie'
     pass
diff --git a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/override.py b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/override.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..766dc32e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/override.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from yt_dlp.extractor.generic import GenericIE
+
+
+class OverrideGenericIE(GenericIE, plugin_name='override'):
+    TEST_FIELD = 'override'
diff --git a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/overridetwo.py b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/overridetwo.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..826184c64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/overridetwo.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from yt_dlp.extractor.generic import GenericIE
+
+
+class _UnderscoreOverrideGenericIE(GenericIE, plugin_name='underscore-override'):
+    SECONDARY_TEST_FIELD = 'underscore-override'
diff --git a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py
index 315b85a48..1e94d7b8b 100644
--- a/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py
+++ b/test/testdata/yt_dlp_plugins/postprocessor/normal.py
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 
 class NormalPluginPP(PostProcessor):
-    pass
+    REPLACED = False
diff --git a/test/testdata/zipped_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/zipped.py b/test/testdata/zipped_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/zipped.py
index 01542e0d8..c5140bb02 100644
--- a/test/testdata/zipped_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/zipped.py
+++ b/test/testdata/zipped_plugins/yt_dlp_plugins/extractor/zipped.py
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 
 
 class ZippedPluginIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _VALID_URL = 'zippedpluginie'
     pass
diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 3293a9076..8790b326b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -30,9 +30,18 @@
 from .cookies import CookieLoadError, LenientSimpleCookie, load_cookies
 from .downloader import FFmpegFD, get_suitable_downloader, shorten_protocol_name
 from .downloader.rtmp import rtmpdump_version
-from .extractor import gen_extractor_classes, get_info_extractor
+from .extractor import gen_extractor_classes, get_info_extractor, import_extractors
 from .extractor.common import UnsupportedURLIE
 from .extractor.openload import PhantomJSwrapper
+from .globals import (
+    IN_CLI,
+    LAZY_EXTRACTORS,
+    plugin_ies,
+    plugin_ies_overrides,
+    plugin_pps,
+    all_plugins_loaded,
+    plugin_dirs,
+)
 from .minicurses import format_text
 from .networking import HEADRequest, Request, RequestDirector
 from .networking.common import _REQUEST_HANDLERS, _RH_PREFERENCES
@@ -44,8 +53,7 @@
     network_exceptions,
 )
 from .networking.impersonate import ImpersonateRequestHandler
-from .plugins import directories as plugin_directories
-from .postprocessor import _PLUGIN_CLASSES as plugin_pps
+from .plugins import directories as plugin_directories, load_all_plugins
 from .postprocessor import (
     EmbedThumbnailPP,
     FFmpegFixupDuplicateMoovPP,
@@ -157,7 +165,7 @@
     write_json_file,
     write_string,
 )
-from .utils._utils import _UnsafeExtensionError, _YDLLogger
+from .utils._utils import _UnsafeExtensionError, _YDLLogger, _ProgressState
 from .utils.networking import (
     HTTPHeaderDict,
     clean_headers,
@@ -642,20 +650,23 @@ def __init__(self, params=None, auto_init=True):
         self.cache = Cache(self)
         self.__header_cookies = []
 
-        stdout = sys.stderr if self.params.get('logtostderr') else sys.stdout
-        self._out_files = Namespace(
-            out=stdout,
-            error=sys.stderr,
-            screen=sys.stderr if self.params.get('quiet') else stdout,
-            console=None if os.name == 'nt' else next(
-                filter(supports_terminal_sequences, (sys.stderr, sys.stdout)), None),
-        )
+        # compat for API: load plugins if they have not already
+        if not all_plugins_loaded.value:
+            load_all_plugins()
 
         try:
             windows_enable_vt_mode()
         except Exception as e:
             self.write_debug(f'Failed to enable VT mode: {e}')
 
+        stdout = sys.stderr if self.params.get('logtostderr') else sys.stdout
+        self._out_files = Namespace(
+            out=stdout,
+            error=sys.stderr,
+            screen=sys.stderr if self.params.get('quiet') else stdout,
+            console=next(filter(supports_terminal_sequences, (sys.stderr, sys.stdout)), None),
+        )
+
         if self.params.get('no_color'):
             if self.params.get('color') is not None:
                 self.params.setdefault('_warnings', []).append(
@@ -956,21 +967,22 @@ def to_stderr(self, message, only_once=False):
             self._write_string(f'{self._bidi_workaround(message)}\n', self._out_files.error, only_once=only_once)
 
     def _send_console_code(self, code):
-        if os.name == 'nt' or not self._out_files.console:
-            return
+        if not supports_terminal_sequences(self._out_files.console):
+            return False
         self._write_string(code, self._out_files.console)
+        return True
 
-    def to_console_title(self, message):
-        if not self.params.get('consoletitle', False):
+    def to_console_title(self, message=None, progress_state=None, percent=None):
+        if not self.params.get('consoletitle'):
             return
-        message = remove_terminal_sequences(message)
-        if os.name == 'nt':
-            if ctypes.windll.kernel32.GetConsoleWindow():
-                # c_wchar_p() might not be necessary if `message` is
-                # already of type unicode()
-                ctypes.windll.kernel32.SetConsoleTitleW(ctypes.c_wchar_p(message))
-        else:
-            self._send_console_code(f'\033]0;{message}\007')
+
+        if message:
+            success = self._send_console_code(f'\033]0;{remove_terminal_sequences(message)}\007')
+            if not success and os.name == 'nt' and ctypes.windll.kernel32.GetConsoleWindow():
+                ctypes.windll.kernel32.SetConsoleTitleW(message)
+
+        if isinstance(progress_state, _ProgressState):
+            self._send_console_code(progress_state.get_ansi_escape(percent))
 
     def save_console_title(self):
         if not self.params.get('consoletitle') or self.params.get('simulate'):
@@ -984,6 +996,7 @@ def restore_console_title(self):
 
     def __enter__(self):
         self.save_console_title()
+        self.to_console_title(progress_state=_ProgressState.INDETERMINATE)
         return self
 
     def save_cookies(self):
@@ -992,6 +1005,7 @@ def save_cookies(self):
 
     def __exit__(self, *args):
         self.restore_console_title()
+        self.to_console_title(progress_state=_ProgressState.HIDDEN)
         self.close()
 
     def close(self):
@@ -3993,15 +4007,6 @@ def print_debug_header(self):
         if not self.params.get('verbose'):
             return
 
-        from . import _IN_CLI  # Must be delayed import
-
-        # These imports can be slow. So import them only as needed
-        from .extractor.extractors import _LAZY_LOADER
-        from .extractor.extractors import (
-            _PLUGIN_CLASSES as plugin_ies,
-            _PLUGIN_OVERRIDES as plugin_ie_overrides,
-        )
-
         def get_encoding(stream):
             ret = str(getattr(stream, 'encoding', f'missing ({type(stream).__name__})'))
             additional_info = []
@@ -4040,17 +4045,18 @@ def get_encoding(stream):
             _make_label(ORIGIN, CHANNEL.partition('@')[2] or __version__, __version__),
             f'[{RELEASE_GIT_HEAD[:9]}]' if RELEASE_GIT_HEAD else '',
             '' if source == 'unknown' else f'({source})',
-            '' if _IN_CLI else 'API' if klass == YoutubeDL else f'API:{self.__module__}.{klass.__qualname__}',
+            '' if IN_CLI.value else 'API' if klass == YoutubeDL else f'API:{self.__module__}.{klass.__qualname__}',
             delim=' '))
 
-        if not _IN_CLI:
+        if not IN_CLI.value:
             write_debug(f'params: {self.params}')
 
-        if not _LAZY_LOADER:
-            if os.environ.get('YTDLP_NO_LAZY_EXTRACTORS'):
-                write_debug('Lazy loading extractors is forcibly disabled')
-            else:
-                write_debug('Lazy loading extractors is disabled')
+        import_extractors()
+        lazy_extractors = LAZY_EXTRACTORS.value
+        if lazy_extractors is None:
+            write_debug('Lazy loading extractors is disabled')
+        elif not lazy_extractors:
+            write_debug('Lazy loading extractors is forcibly disabled')
         if self.params['compat_opts']:
             write_debug('Compatibility options: {}'.format(', '.join(self.params['compat_opts'])))
 
@@ -4079,24 +4085,27 @@ def get_encoding(stream):
 
         write_debug(f'Proxy map: {self.proxies}')
         write_debug(f'Request Handlers: {", ".join(rh.RH_NAME for rh in self._request_director.handlers.values())}')
-        if os.environ.get('YTDLP_NO_PLUGINS'):
-            write_debug('Plugins are forcibly disabled')
-            return
 
-        for plugin_type, plugins in {'Extractor': plugin_ies, 'Post-Processor': plugin_pps}.items():
-            display_list = ['{}{}'.format(
-                klass.__name__, '' if klass.__name__ == name else f' as {name}')
-                for name, klass in plugins.items()]
+        for plugin_type, plugins in (('Extractor', plugin_ies), ('Post-Processor', plugin_pps)):
+            display_list = [
+                klass.__name__ if klass.__name__ == name else f'{klass.__name__} as {name}'
+                for name, klass in plugins.value.items()]
             if plugin_type == 'Extractor':
                 display_list.extend(f'{plugins[-1].IE_NAME.partition("+")[2]} ({parent.__name__})'
-                                    for parent, plugins in plugin_ie_overrides.items())
+                                    for parent, plugins in plugin_ies_overrides.value.items())
             if not display_list:
                 continue
             write_debug(f'{plugin_type} Plugins: {", ".join(sorted(display_list))}')
 
-        plugin_dirs = plugin_directories()
-        if plugin_dirs:
-            write_debug(f'Plugin directories: {plugin_dirs}')
+        plugin_dirs_msg = 'none'
+        if not plugin_dirs.value:
+            plugin_dirs_msg = 'none (disabled)'
+        else:
+            found_plugin_directories = plugin_directories()
+            if found_plugin_directories:
+                plugin_dirs_msg = ', '.join(found_plugin_directories)
+
+        write_debug(f'Plugin directories: {plugin_dirs_msg}')
 
     @functools.cached_property
     def proxies(self):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
index c76fe2748..7d8f10047 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 from .extractor import list_extractor_classes
 from .extractor.adobepass import MSO_INFO
 from .networking.impersonate import ImpersonateTarget
+from .globals import IN_CLI, plugin_dirs
 from .options import parseOpts
+from .plugins import load_all_plugins as _load_all_plugins
 from .postprocessor import (
     FFmpegExtractAudioPP,
     FFmpegMergerPP,
@@ -33,7 +35,6 @@
 )
 from .update import Updater
 from .utils import (
-    Config,
     NO_DEFAULT,
     POSTPROCESS_WHEN,
     DateRange,
@@ -66,8 +67,6 @@
 from .utils._utils import _UnsafeExtensionError
 from .YoutubeDL import YoutubeDL
 
-_IN_CLI = False
-
 
 def _exit(status=0, *args):
     for msg in args:
@@ -295,18 +294,20 @@ def parse_sleep_func(expr):
             raise ValueError(f'invalid {key} retry sleep expression {expr!r}')
 
     # Bytes
-    def validate_bytes(name, value):
+    def validate_bytes(name, value, strict_positive=False):
         if value is None:
             return None
         numeric_limit = parse_bytes(value)
-        validate(numeric_limit is not None, 'rate limit', value)
+        validate(numeric_limit is not None, name, value)
+        if strict_positive:
+            validate_positive(name, numeric_limit, True)
         return numeric_limit
 
-    opts.ratelimit = validate_bytes('rate limit', opts.ratelimit)
+    opts.ratelimit = validate_bytes('rate limit', opts.ratelimit, True)
     opts.throttledratelimit = validate_bytes('throttled rate limit', opts.throttledratelimit)
     opts.min_filesize = validate_bytes('min filesize', opts.min_filesize)
     opts.max_filesize = validate_bytes('max filesize', opts.max_filesize)
-    opts.buffersize = validate_bytes('buffer size', opts.buffersize)
+    opts.buffersize = validate_bytes('buffer size', opts.buffersize, True)
     opts.http_chunk_size = validate_bytes('http chunk size', opts.http_chunk_size)
 
     # Output templates
@@ -431,6 +432,10 @@ def metadataparser_actions(f):
     }
 
     # Other options
+    opts.plugin_dirs = opts.plugin_dirs
+    if opts.plugin_dirs is None:
+        opts.plugin_dirs = ['default']
+
     if opts.playlist_items is not None:
         try:
             tuple(PlaylistEntries.parse_playlist_items(opts.playlist_items))
@@ -971,11 +976,6 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
 
     parser, opts, all_urls, ydl_opts = parse_options(argv)
 
-    # HACK: Set the plugin dirs early on
-    # TODO(coletdjnz): remove when plugin globals system is implemented
-    if opts.plugin_dirs is not None:
-        Config._plugin_dirs = list(map(expand_path, opts.plugin_dirs))
-
     # Dump user agent
     if opts.dump_user_agent:
         ua = traverse_obj(opts.headers, 'User-Agent', casesense=False, default=std_headers['User-Agent'])
@@ -990,6 +990,11 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
     if opts.ffmpeg_location:
         FFmpegPostProcessor._ffmpeg_location.set(opts.ffmpeg_location)
 
+    # load all plugins into the global lookup
+    plugin_dirs.value = opts.plugin_dirs
+    if plugin_dirs.value:
+        _load_all_plugins()
+
     with YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
         pre_process = opts.update_self or opts.rm_cachedir
         actual_use = all_urls or opts.load_info_filename
@@ -1089,8 +1094,7 @@ def make_row(target, handler):
 
 
 def main(argv=None):
-    global _IN_CLI
-    _IN_CLI = True
+    IN_CLI.value = True
     try:
         _exit(*variadic(_real_main(argv)))
     except (CookieLoadError, DownloadError):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/downloader/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/downloader/__init__.py
index 51a9f28f0..1b12bd4be 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/downloader/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/downloader/__init__.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def get_suitable_downloader(info_dict, params={}, default=NO_DEFAULT, protocol=N
 from .rtsp import RtspFD
 from .websocket import WebSocketFragmentFD
 from .youtube_live_chat import YoutubeLiveChatFD
+from .bunnycdn import BunnyCdnFD
 
 PROTOCOL_MAP = {
     'rtmp': RtmpFD,
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ def get_suitable_downloader(info_dict, params={}, default=NO_DEFAULT, protocol=N
     'websocket_frag': WebSocketFragmentFD,
     'youtube_live_chat': YoutubeLiveChatFD,
     'youtube_live_chat_replay': YoutubeLiveChatFD,
+    'bunnycdn': BunnyCdnFD,
 }
 
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/downloader/bunnycdn.py b/yt_dlp/downloader/bunnycdn.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e787f698a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yt_dlp/downloader/bunnycdn.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import hashlib
+import random
+import threading
+
+from .common import FileDownloader
+from . import HlsFD
+from ..networking import Request
+from ..networking.exceptions import network_exceptions
+
+
+class BunnyCdnFD(FileDownloader):
+    """
+    Downloads from BunnyCDN with required pings
+    Note, this is not a part of public API, and will be removed without notice.
+    DO NOT USE
+    """
+
+    def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
+        self.to_screen(f'[{self.FD_NAME}] Downloading from BunnyCDN')
+
+        fd = HlsFD(self.ydl, self.params)
+
+        stop_event = threading.Event()
+        ping_thread = threading.Thread(target=self.ping_thread, args=(stop_event,), kwargs=info_dict['_bunnycdn_ping_data'])
+        ping_thread.start()
+
+        try:
+            return fd.real_download(filename, info_dict)
+        finally:
+            stop_event.set()
+
+    def ping_thread(self, stop_event, url, headers, secret, context_id):
+        # Site sends ping every 4 seconds, but this throttles the download. Pinging every 2 seconds seems to work.
+        ping_interval = 2
+        # Hard coded resolution as it doesn't seem to matter
+        res = 1080
+        paused = 'false'
+        current_time = 0
+
+        while not stop_event.wait(ping_interval):
+            current_time += ping_interval
+
+            time = current_time + round(random.random(), 6)
+            md5_hash = hashlib.md5(f'{secret}_{context_id}_{time}_{paused}_{res}'.encode()).hexdigest()
+            ping_url = f'{url}?hash={md5_hash}&time={time}&paused={paused}&resolution={res}'
+
+            try:
+                self.ydl.urlopen(Request(ping_url, headers=headers)).read()
+            except network_exceptions as e:
+                self.to_screen(f'[{self.FD_NAME}] Ping failed: {e}')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py b/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py
index e8dcb37cc..bb9303f8a 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     timetuple_from_msec,
     try_call,
 )
+from ..utils._utils import _ProgressState
 
 
 class FileDownloader:
@@ -333,7 +334,7 @@ def _report_progress_status(self, s, default_template):
             progress_dict), s.get('progress_idx') or 0)
         self.to_console_title(self.ydl.evaluate_outtmpl(
             progress_template.get('download-title') or 'yt-dlp %(progress._default_template)s',
-            progress_dict))
+            progress_dict), _ProgressState.from_dict(s), s.get('_percent'))
 
     def _format_progress(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.ydl._format_text(
@@ -357,6 +358,7 @@ def with_fields(*tups, default=''):
                 '_speed_str': self.format_speed(speed).strip(),
                 '_total_bytes_str': _format_bytes('total_bytes'),
                 '_elapsed_str': self.format_seconds(s.get('elapsed')),
+                '_percent': 100.0,
                 '_percent_str': self.format_percent(100),
             })
             self._report_progress_status(s, join_nonempty(
@@ -375,13 +377,15 @@ def with_fields(*tups, default=''):
                     return
                 self._progress_delta_time += update_delta
 
+        progress = try_call(
+            lambda: 100 * s['downloaded_bytes'] / s['total_bytes'],
+            lambda: 100 * s['downloaded_bytes'] / s['total_bytes_estimate'],
+            lambda: s['downloaded_bytes'] == 0 and 0)
         s.update({
             '_eta_str': self.format_eta(s.get('eta')).strip(),
             '_speed_str': self.format_speed(s.get('speed')),
-            '_percent_str': self.format_percent(try_call(
-                lambda: 100 * s['downloaded_bytes'] / s['total_bytes'],
-                lambda: 100 * s['downloaded_bytes'] / s['total_bytes_estimate'],
-                lambda: s['downloaded_bytes'] == 0 and 0)),
+            '_percent': progress,
+            '_percent_str': self.format_percent(progress),
             '_total_bytes_str': _format_bytes('total_bytes'),
             '_total_bytes_estimate_str': _format_bytes('total_bytes_estimate'),
             '_downloaded_bytes_str': _format_bytes('downloaded_bytes'),
diff --git a/yt_dlp/downloader/hls.py b/yt_dlp/downloader/hls.py
index 7a47f8f83..1f36a07f5 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/downloader/hls.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/downloader/hls.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     update_url_query,
     urljoin,
 )
+from ..utils._utils import _request_dump_filename
 
 
 class HlsFD(FragmentFD):
@@ -80,7 +81,15 @@ def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
             self.to_screen(f'[{self.FD_NAME}] Downloading m3u8 manifest')
             urlh = self.ydl.urlopen(self._prepare_url(info_dict, man_url))
             man_url = urlh.url
-            s = urlh.read().decode('utf-8', 'ignore')
+            s_bytes = urlh.read()
+            if self.params.get('write_pages'):
+                dump_filename = _request_dump_filename(
+                    man_url, info_dict['id'], None,
+                    trim_length=self.params.get('trim_file_name'))
+                self.to_screen(f'[{self.FD_NAME}] Saving request to {dump_filename}')
+                with open(dump_filename, 'wb') as outf:
+                    outf.write(s_bytes)
+            s = s_bytes.decode('utf-8', 'ignore')
 
         can_download, message = self.can_download(s, info_dict, self.params.get('allow_unplayable_formats')), None
         if can_download:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/__init__.py
index 6bfa4bd7b..a090e942d 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/__init__.py
@@ -1,16 +1,25 @@
 from ..compat.compat_utils import passthrough_module
+from ..globals import extractors as _extractors_context
+from ..globals import plugin_ies as _plugin_ies_context
+from ..plugins import PluginSpec, register_plugin_spec
 
 passthrough_module(__name__, '.extractors')
 del passthrough_module
 
+register_plugin_spec(PluginSpec(
+    module_name='extractor',
+    suffix='IE',
+    destination=_extractors_context,
+    plugin_destination=_plugin_ies_context,
+))
+
 
 def gen_extractor_classes():
     """ Return a list of supported extractors.
     The order does matter; the first extractor matched is the one handling the URL.
     """
-    from .extractors import _ALL_CLASSES
-
-    return _ALL_CLASSES
+    import_extractors()
+    return list(_extractors_context.value.values())
 
 
 def gen_extractors():
@@ -37,6 +46,9 @@ def list_extractors(age_limit=None):
 
 def get_info_extractor(ie_name):
     """Returns the info extractor class with the given ie_name"""
-    from . import extractors
+    import_extractors()
+    return _extractors_context.value[f'{ie_name}IE']
 
-    return getattr(extractors, f'{ie_name}IE')
+
+def import_extractors():
+    from . import extractors  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py
index c937dfe13..9a49bcb30 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py
@@ -312,6 +312,7 @@
 )
 from .bundesliga import BundesligaIE
 from .bundestag import BundestagIE
+from .bunnycdn import BunnyCdnIE
 from .businessinsider import BusinessInsiderIE
 from .buzzfeed import BuzzFeedIE
 from .byutv import BYUtvIE
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/bunnycdn.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/bunnycdn.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d78753384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/bunnycdn.py
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+import json
+
+from .common import InfoExtractor
+from ..networking import HEADRequest
+from ..utils import (
+    ExtractorError,
+    extract_attributes,
+    int_or_none,
+    parse_qs,
+    smuggle_url,
+    unsmuggle_url,
+    url_or_none,
+    urlhandle_detect_ext,
+)
+from ..utils.traversal import find_element, traverse_obj
+
+
+class BunnyCdnIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _VALID_URL = r'https?://(?:iframe\.mediadelivery\.net|video\.bunnycdn\.com)/(?:embed|play)/(?P<library_id>\d+)/(?P<id>[\da-f-]+)'
+    _EMBED_REGEX = [rf'<iframe[^>]+src=[\'"](?P<url>{_VALID_URL}[^\'"]*)[\'"]']
+    _TESTS = [{
+        'url': 'https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/113933/e73edec1-e381-4c8b-ae73-717a140e0924',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': 'e73edec1-e381-4c8b-ae73-717a140e0924',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'title': 'mistress morgana (3).mp4',
+            'description': '',
+            'timestamp': 1693251673,
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.b-cdn\.net/e73edec1-e381-4c8b-ae73-717a140e0924/thumbnail\.jpg',
+            'duration': 7.0,
+            'upload_date': '20230828',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }, {
+        'url': 'https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/play/136145/32e34c4b-0d72-437c-9abb-05e67657da34',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '32e34c4b-0d72-437c-9abb-05e67657da34',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'timestamp': 1691145748,
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.b-cdn\.net/32e34c4b-0d72-437c-9abb-05e67657da34/thumbnail_9172dc16\.jpg',
+            'duration': 106.0,
+            'description': 'md5:981a3e899a5c78352b21ed8b2f1efd81',
+            'upload_date': '20230804',
+            'title': 'Sanela ist Teil der #arbeitsmarktkraft',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }, {
+        # Stream requires activation and pings
+        'url': 'https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/200867/2e8545ec-509d-4571-b855-4cf0235ccd75',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '2e8545ec-509d-4571-b855-4cf0235ccd75',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'timestamp': 1708497752,
+            'title': 'netflix part 1',
+            'duration': 3959.0,
+            'description': '',
+            'upload_date': '20240221',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.b-cdn\.net/2e8545ec-509d-4571-b855-4cf0235ccd75/thumbnail\.jpg',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }]
+    _WEBPAGE_TESTS = [{
+        # Stream requires Referer
+        'url': 'https://conword.io/',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '3a5d863e-9cd6-447e-b6ef-e289af50b349',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'title': 'Conword bei der Stadt Köln und Stadt Dortmund',
+            'description': '',
+            'upload_date': '20231031',
+            'duration': 31.0,
+            'thumbnail': 'https://video.watchuh.com/3a5d863e-9cd6-447e-b6ef-e289af50b349/thumbnail.jpg',
+            'timestamp': 1698783879,
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }, {
+        # URL requires token and expires
+        'url': 'https://www.stockphotos.com/video/moscow-subway-the-train-is-arriving-at-the-park-kultury-station-10017830',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '0b02fa20-4e8c-4140-8f87-f64d820a3386',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.b-cdn\.net/0b02fa20-4e8c-4140-8f87-f64d820a3386/thumbnail\.jpg',
+            'title': 'Moscow subway. The train is arriving at the Park Kultury station.',
+            'upload_date': '20240531',
+            'duration': 18.0,
+            'timestamp': 1717152269,
+            'description': '',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _extract_embed_urls(cls, url, webpage):
+        for embed_url in super()._extract_embed_urls(url, webpage):
+            yield smuggle_url(embed_url, {'Referer': url})
+
+    def _real_extract(self, url):
+        url, smuggled_data = unsmuggle_url(url, {})
+
+        video_id, library_id = self._match_valid_url(url).group('id', 'library_id')
+        webpage = self._download_webpage(
+            f'https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/{library_id}/{video_id}', video_id,
+            headers=traverse_obj(smuggled_data, {'Referer': 'Referer'}),
+            query=traverse_obj(parse_qs(url), {'token': 'token', 'expires': 'expires'}))
+
+        if html_title := self._html_extract_title(webpage, default=None) == '403':
+            raise ExtractorError(
+                'This video is inaccessible. Setting a Referer header '
+                'might be required to access the video', expected=True)
+        elif html_title == '404':
+            raise ExtractorError('This video does not exist', expected=True)
+
+        headers = {'Referer': url}
+
+        info = traverse_obj(self._parse_html5_media_entries(url, webpage, video_id, _headers=headers), 0) or {}
+        formats = info.get('formats') or []
+        subtitles = info.get('subtitles') or {}
+
+        original_url = self._search_regex(
+            r'(?:var|const|let)\s+originalUrl\s*=\s*["\']([^"\']+)["\']', webpage, 'original url', default=None)
+        if url_or_none(original_url):
+            urlh = self._request_webpage(
+                HEADRequest(original_url), video_id=video_id, note='Checking original',
+                headers=headers, fatal=False, expected_status=(403, 404))
+            if urlh and urlh.status == 200:
+                formats.append({
+                    'url': original_url,
+                    'format_id': 'source',
+                    'quality': 1,
+                    'http_headers': headers,
+                    'ext': urlhandle_detect_ext(urlh, default='mp4'),
+                    'filesize': int_or_none(urlh.get_header('Content-Length')),
+                })
+
+        # MediaCage Streams require activation and pings
+        src_url = self._search_regex(
+            r'\.setAttribute\([\'"]src[\'"],\s*[\'"]([^\'"]+)[\'"]\)', webpage, 'src url', default=None)
+        activation_url = self._search_regex(
+            r'loadUrl\([\'"]([^\'"]+/activate)[\'"]', webpage, 'activation url', default=None)
+        ping_url = self._search_regex(
+            r'loadUrl\([\'"]([^\'"]+/ping)[\'"]', webpage, 'ping url', default=None)
+        secret = traverse_obj(parse_qs(src_url), ('secret', 0))
+        context_id = traverse_obj(parse_qs(src_url), ('contextId', 0))
+        ping_data = {}
+        if src_url and activation_url and ping_url and secret and context_id:
+            self._download_webpage(
+                activation_url, video_id, headers=headers, note='Downloading activation data')
+
+            fmts, subs = self._extract_m3u8_formats_and_subtitles(
+                src_url, video_id, 'mp4', headers=headers, m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False)
+            for fmt in fmts:
+                fmt.update({
+                    'protocol': 'bunnycdn',
+                    'http_headers': headers,
+                })
+            formats.extend(fmts)
+            self._merge_subtitles(subs, target=subtitles)
+
+            ping_data = {
+                '_bunnycdn_ping_data': {
+                    'url': ping_url,
+                    'headers': headers,
+                    'secret': secret,
+                    'context_id': context_id,
+                },
+            }
+
+        return {
+            'id': video_id,
+            'formats': formats,
+            'subtitles': subtitles,
+            **traverse_obj(webpage, ({find_element(id='main-video', html=True)}, {extract_attributes}, {
+                'title': ('data-plyr-config', {json.loads}, 'title', {str}),
+                'thumbnail': ('data-poster', {url_or_none}),
+            })),
+            **ping_data,
+            **self._search_json_ld(webpage, video_id, fatal=False),
+        }
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/cbc.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/cbc.py
index c0cf3da3d..e63c608fc 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/cbc.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/cbc.py
@@ -14,16 +14,18 @@
     js_to_json,
     mimetype2ext,
     orderedSet,
+    parse_age_limit,
     parse_iso8601,
     replace_extension,
     smuggle_url,
     strip_or_none,
-    traverse_obj,
     try_get,
+    unified_timestamp,
     update_url,
     url_basename,
     url_or_none,
 )
+from ..utils.traversal import require, traverse_obj, trim_str
 
 
 class CBCIE(InfoExtractor):
@@ -516,9 +518,43 @@ def entries():
         return self.playlist_result(entries(), playlist_id)
 
 
-class CBCGemIE(InfoExtractor):
+class CBCGemBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
+    _NETRC_MACHINE = 'cbcgem'
+    _GEO_COUNTRIES = ['CA']
+
+    def _call_show_api(self, item_id, display_id=None):
+        return self._download_json(
+            f'https://services.radio-canada.ca/ott/catalog/v2/gem/show/{item_id}',
+            display_id or item_id, query={'device': 'web'})
+
+    def _extract_item_info(self, item_info):
+        episode_number = None
+        title = traverse_obj(item_info, ('title', {str}))
+        if title and (mobj := re.match(r'(?P<episode>\d+)\. (?P<title>.+)', title)):
+            episode_number = int_or_none(mobj.group('episode'))
+            title = mobj.group('title')
+
+        return {
+            'episode_number': episode_number,
+            **traverse_obj(item_info, {
+                'id': ('url', {str}),
+                'episode_id': ('url', {str}),
+                'description': ('description', {str}),
+                'thumbnail': ('images', 'card', 'url', {url_or_none}, {update_url(query=None)}),
+                'episode_number': ('episodeNumber', {int_or_none}),
+                'duration': ('metadata', 'duration', {int_or_none}),
+                'release_timestamp': ('metadata', 'airDate', {unified_timestamp}),
+                'timestamp': ('metadata', 'availabilityDate', {unified_timestamp}),
+                'age_limit': ('metadata', 'rating', {trim_str(start='C')}, {parse_age_limit}),
+            }),
+            'episode': title,
+            'title': title,
+        }
+
+
+class CBCGemIE(CBCGemBaseIE):
     IE_NAME = 'gem.cbc.ca'
-    _VALID_URL = r'https?://gem\.cbc\.ca/(?:media/)?(?P<id>[0-9a-z-]+/s[0-9]+[a-z][0-9]+)'
+    _VALID_URL = r'https?://gem\.cbc\.ca/(?:media/)?(?P<id>[0-9a-z-]+/s(?P<season>[0-9]+)[a-z][0-9]+)'
     _TESTS = [{
         # This is a normal, public, TV show video
         'url': 'https://gem.cbc.ca/media/schitts-creek/s06e01',
@@ -529,7 +565,7 @@ class CBCGemIE(InfoExtractor):
             'description': 'md5:929868d20021c924020641769eb3e7f1',
             'thumbnail': r're:https://images\.radio-canada\.ca/[^#?]+/cbc_schitts_creek_season_06e01_thumbnail_v01\.jpg',
             'duration': 1324,
-            'categories': ['comedy'],
+            'genres': ['Comédie et humour'],
             'series': 'Schitt\'s Creek',
             'season': 'Season 6',
             'season_number': 6,
@@ -537,9 +573,10 @@ class CBCGemIE(InfoExtractor):
             'episode_number': 1,
             'episode_id': 'schitts-creek/s06e01',
             'upload_date': '20210618',
-            'timestamp': 1623988800,
+            'timestamp': 1623974400,
             'release_date': '20200107',
-            'release_timestamp': 1578427200,
+            'release_timestamp': 1578355200,
+            'age_limit': 14,
         },
         'params': {'format': 'bv'},
     }, {
@@ -557,12 +594,13 @@ class CBCGemIE(InfoExtractor):
             'episode_number': 1,
             'episode': 'The Cup Runneth Over',
             'episode_id': 'schitts-creek/s01e01',
-            'duration': 1309,
-            'categories': ['comedy'],
+            'duration': 1308,
+            'genres': ['Comédie et humour'],
             'upload_date': '20210617',
-            'timestamp': 1623902400,
-            'release_date': '20151124',
-            'release_timestamp': 1448323200,
+            'timestamp': 1623888000,
+            'release_date': '20151123',
+            'release_timestamp': 1448236800,
+            'age_limit': 14,
         },
         'params': {'format': 'bv'},
     }, {
@@ -570,9 +608,7 @@ class CBCGemIE(InfoExtractor):
         'only_matching': True,
     }]
 
-    _GEO_COUNTRIES = ['CA']
     _TOKEN_API_KEY = '3f4beddd-2061-49b0-ae80-6f1f2ed65b37'
-    _NETRC_MACHINE = 'cbcgem'
     _claims_token = None
 
     def _new_claims_token(self, email, password):
@@ -634,10 +670,12 @@ def _real_initialize(self):
         self._claims_token = self.cache.load(self._NETRC_MACHINE, 'claims_token')
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
-        video_id = self._match_id(url)
-        video_info = self._download_json(
-            f'https://services.radio-canada.ca/ott/cbc-api/v2/assets/{video_id}',
-            video_id, expected_status=426)
+        video_id, season_number = self._match_valid_url(url).group('id', 'season')
+        video_info = self._call_show_api(video_id)
+        item_info = traverse_obj(video_info, (
+            'content', ..., 'lineups', ..., 'items',
+            lambda _, v: v['url'] == video_id, any, {require('item info')}))
+        media_id = item_info['idMedia']
 
         email, password = self._get_login_info()
         if email and password:
@@ -645,7 +683,20 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
             headers = {'x-claims-token': claims_token}
         else:
             headers = {}
-        m3u8_info = self._download_json(video_info['playSession']['url'], video_id, headers=headers)
+
+        m3u8_info = self._download_json(
+            'https://services.radio-canada.ca/media/validation/v2/',
+            video_id, headers=headers, query={
+                'appCode': 'gem',
+                'connectionType': 'hd',
+                'deviceType': 'ipad',
+                'multibitrate': 'true',
+                'output': 'json',
+                'tech': 'hls',
+                'manifestVersion': '2',
+                'manifestType': 'desktop',
+                'idMedia': media_id,
+            })
 
         if m3u8_info.get('errorCode') == 1:
             self.raise_geo_restricted(countries=['CA'])
@@ -671,26 +722,20 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                     fmt['preference'] = -2
 
         return {
+            'season_number': int_or_none(season_number),
+            **traverse_obj(video_info, {
+                'series': ('title', {str}),
+                'season_number': ('structuredMetadata', 'partofSeason', 'seasonNumber', {int_or_none}),
+                'genres': ('structuredMetadata', 'genre', ..., {str}),
+            }),
+            **self._extract_item_info(item_info),
             'id': video_id,
             'episode_id': video_id,
             'formats': formats,
-            **traverse_obj(video_info, {
-                'title': ('title', {str}),
-                'episode': ('title', {str}),
-                'description': ('description', {str}),
-                'thumbnail': ('image', {url_or_none}),
-                'series': ('series', {str}),
-                'season_number': ('season', {int_or_none}),
-                'episode_number': ('episode', {int_or_none}),
-                'duration': ('duration', {int_or_none}),
-                'categories': ('category', {str}, all),
-                'release_timestamp': ('airDate', {int_or_none(scale=1000)}),
-                'timestamp': ('availableDate', {int_or_none(scale=1000)}),
-            }),
         }
 
 
-class CBCGemPlaylistIE(InfoExtractor):
+class CBCGemPlaylistIE(CBCGemBaseIE):
     IE_NAME = 'gem.cbc.ca:playlist'
     _VALID_URL = r'https?://gem\.cbc\.ca/(?:media/)?(?P<id>(?P<show>[0-9a-z-]+)/s(?P<season>[0-9]+))/?(?:[?#]|$)'
     _TESTS = [{
@@ -700,70 +745,35 @@ class CBCGemPlaylistIE(InfoExtractor):
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'schitts-creek/s06',
             'title': 'Season 6',
-            'description': 'md5:6a92104a56cbeb5818cc47884d4326a2',
             'series': 'Schitt\'s Creek',
             'season_number': 6,
             'season': 'Season 6',
-            'thumbnail': 'https://images.radio-canada.ca/v1/synps-cbc/season/perso/cbc_schitts_creek_season_06_carousel_v03.jpg?impolicy=ott&im=Resize=(_Size_)&quality=75',
         },
     }, {
         'url': 'https://gem.cbc.ca/schitts-creek/s06',
         'only_matching': True,
     }]
-    _API_BASE = 'https://services.radio-canada.ca/ott/cbc-api/v2/shows/'
+
+    def _entries(self, season_info):
+        for episode in traverse_obj(season_info, ('items', lambda _, v: v['url'])):
+            yield self.url_result(
+                f'https://gem.cbc.ca/media/{episode["url"]}', CBCGemIE,
+                **self._extract_item_info(episode))
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
-        match = self._match_valid_url(url)
-        season_id = match.group('id')
-        show = match.group('show')
-        show_info = self._download_json(self._API_BASE + show, season_id, expected_status=426)
-        season = int(match.group('season'))
+        season_id, show, season = self._match_valid_url(url).group('id', 'show', 'season')
+        show_info = self._call_show_api(show, display_id=season_id)
+        season_info = traverse_obj(show_info, (
+            'content', ..., 'lineups',
+            lambda _, v: v['seasonNumber'] == int(season), any, {require('season info')}))
 
-        season_info = next((s for s in show_info['seasons'] if s.get('season') == season), None)
-
-        if season_info is None:
-            raise ExtractorError(f'Couldn\'t find season {season} of {show}')
-
-        episodes = []
-        for episode in season_info['assets']:
-            episodes.append({
-                '_type': 'url_transparent',
-                'ie_key': 'CBCGem',
-                'url': 'https://gem.cbc.ca/media/' + episode['id'],
-                'id': episode['id'],
-                'title': episode.get('title'),
-                'description': episode.get('description'),
-                'thumbnail': episode.get('image'),
-                'series': episode.get('series'),
-                'season_number': episode.get('season'),
-                'season': season_info['title'],
-                'season_id': season_info.get('id'),
-                'episode_number': episode.get('episode'),
-                'episode': episode.get('title'),
-                'episode_id': episode['id'],
-                'duration': episode.get('duration'),
-                'categories': [episode.get('category')],
-            })
-
-        thumbnail = None
-        tn_uri = season_info.get('image')
-        # the-national was observed to use a "data:image/png;base64"
-        # URI for their 'image' value. The image was 1x1, and is
-        # probably just a placeholder, so it is ignored.
-        if tn_uri is not None and not tn_uri.startswith('data:'):
-            thumbnail = tn_uri
-
-        return {
-            '_type': 'playlist',
-            'entries': episodes,
-            'id': season_id,
-            'title': season_info['title'],
-            'description': season_info.get('description'),
-            'thumbnail': thumbnail,
-            'series': show_info.get('title'),
-            'season_number': season_info.get('season'),
-            'season': season_info['title'],
-        }
+        return self.playlist_result(
+            self._entries(season_info), season_id,
+            **traverse_obj(season_info, {
+                'title': ('title', {str}),
+                'season': ('title', {str}),
+                'season_number': ('seasonNumber', {int_or_none}),
+            }), series=traverse_obj(show_info, ('title', {str})))
 
 
 class CBCGemLiveIE(InfoExtractor):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
index 3e7734ce1..b816d788f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import collections
 import functools
 import getpass
-import hashlib
 import http.client
 import http.cookiejar
 import http.cookies
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@
 from ..cookies import LenientSimpleCookie
 from ..downloader.f4m import get_base_url, remove_encrypted_media
 from ..downloader.hls import HlsFD
+from ..globals import plugin_ies_overrides
 from ..networking import HEADRequest, Request
 from ..networking.exceptions import (
     HTTPError,
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@
     parse_iso8601,
     parse_m3u8_attributes,
     parse_resolution,
-    sanitize_filename,
     sanitize_url,
     smuggle_url,
     str_or_none,
@@ -100,6 +99,7 @@
     xpath_text,
     xpath_with_ns,
 )
+from ..utils._utils import _request_dump_filename
 
 
 class InfoExtractor:
@@ -1022,23 +1022,6 @@ def __check_blocked(self, content):
                 'Visit http://blocklist.rkn.gov.ru/ for a block reason.',
                 expected=True)
 
-    def _request_dump_filename(self, url, video_id, data=None):
-        if data is not None:
-            data = hashlib.md5(data).hexdigest()
-        basen = join_nonempty(video_id, data, url, delim='_')
-        trim_length = self.get_param('trim_file_name') or 240
-        if len(basen) > trim_length:
-            h = '___' + hashlib.md5(basen.encode()).hexdigest()
-            basen = basen[:trim_length - len(h)] + h
-        filename = sanitize_filename(f'{basen}.dump', restricted=True)
-        # Working around MAX_PATH limitation on Windows (see
-        # http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx)
-        if os.name == 'nt':
-            absfilepath = os.path.abspath(filename)
-            if len(absfilepath) > 259:
-                filename = fR'\\?\{absfilepath}'
-        return filename
-
     def __decode_webpage(self, webpage_bytes, encoding, headers):
         if not encoding:
             encoding = self._guess_encoding_from_content(headers.get('Content-Type', ''), webpage_bytes)
@@ -1067,7 +1050,9 @@ def _webpage_read_content(self, urlh, url_or_request, video_id, note=None, errno
         if self.get_param('write_pages'):
             if isinstance(url_or_request, Request):
                 data = self._create_request(url_or_request, data).data
-            filename = self._request_dump_filename(urlh.url, video_id, data)
+            filename = _request_dump_filename(
+                urlh.url, video_id, data,
+                trim_length=self.get_param('trim_file_name'))
             self.to_screen(f'Saving request to {filename}')
             with open(filename, 'wb') as outf:
                 outf.write(webpage_bytes)
@@ -1128,7 +1113,9 @@ def download_content(self, url_or_request, video_id, note=note, errnote=errnote,
                              impersonate=None, require_impersonation=False):
             if self.get_param('load_pages'):
                 url_or_request = self._create_request(url_or_request, data, headers, query)
-                filename = self._request_dump_filename(url_or_request.url, video_id, url_or_request.data)
+                filename = _request_dump_filename(
+                    url_or_request.url, video_id, url_or_request.data,
+                    trim_length=self.get_param('trim_file_name'))
                 self.to_screen(f'Loading request from {filename}')
                 try:
                     with open(filename, 'rb') as dumpf:
@@ -3968,14 +3955,18 @@ def _extract_url(cls, webpage):  # TODO: Remove
     def __init_subclass__(cls, *, plugin_name=None, **kwargs):
         if plugin_name:
             mro = inspect.getmro(cls)
-            super_class = cls.__wrapped__ = mro[mro.index(cls) + 1]
-            cls.PLUGIN_NAME, cls.ie_key = plugin_name, super_class.ie_key
-            cls.IE_NAME = f'{super_class.IE_NAME}+{plugin_name}'
+            next_mro_class = super_class = mro[mro.index(cls) + 1]
+
             while getattr(super_class, '__wrapped__', None):
                 super_class = super_class.__wrapped__
-            setattr(sys.modules[super_class.__module__], super_class.__name__, cls)
-            _PLUGIN_OVERRIDES[super_class].append(cls)
 
+            if not any(override.PLUGIN_NAME == plugin_name for override in plugin_ies_overrides.value[super_class]):
+                cls.__wrapped__ = next_mro_class
+                cls.PLUGIN_NAME, cls.ie_key = plugin_name, next_mro_class.ie_key
+                cls.IE_NAME = f'{next_mro_class.IE_NAME}+{plugin_name}'
+
+                setattr(sys.modules[super_class.__module__], super_class.__name__, cls)
+                plugin_ies_overrides.value[super_class].append(cls)
         return super().__init_subclass__(**kwargs)
 
 
@@ -4031,6 +4022,3 @@ class UnsupportedURLIE(InfoExtractor):
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         raise UnsupportedError(url)
-
-
-_PLUGIN_OVERRIDES = collections.defaultdict(list)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/dreisat.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/dreisat.py
index 4b0a269b9..376ff672d 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/dreisat.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/dreisat.py
@@ -1,10 +1,24 @@
-from .zdf import ZDFIE
+from .zdf import ZDFBaseIE
 
 
-class DreiSatIE(ZDFIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
+class DreiSatIE(ZDFBaseIE):
     IE_NAME = '3sat'
     _VALID_URL = r'https?://(?:www\.)?3sat\.de/(?:[^/]+/)*(?P<id>[^/?#&]+)\.html'
     _TESTS = [{
+        'url': 'https://www.3sat.de/dokumentation/reise/traumziele-suedostasiens-die-philippinen-und-vietnam-102.html',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '231124_traumziele_philippinen_und_vietnam_dokreise',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'title': 'Traumziele Südostasiens (1/2): Die Philippinen und Vietnam',
+            'description': 'md5:26329ce5197775b596773b939354079d',
+            'duration': 2625.0,
+            'thumbnail': 'https://www.3sat.de/assets/traumziele-suedostasiens-die-philippinen-und-vietnam-100~2400x1350?cb=1699870351148',
+            'episode': 'Traumziele Südostasiens (1/2): Die Philippinen und Vietnam',
+            'episode_id': 'POS_cc7ff51c-98cf-4d12-b99d-f7a551de1c95',
+            'timestamp': 1738593000,
+            'upload_date': '20250203',
+        },
+    }, {
         # Same as https://www.zdf.de/dokumentation/ab-18/10-wochen-sommer-102.html
         'url': 'https://www.3sat.de/film/ab-18/10-wochen-sommer-108.html',
         'md5': '0aff3e7bc72c8813f5e0fae333316a1d',
@@ -17,6 +31,7 @@ class DreiSatIE(ZDFIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
             'timestamp': 1608604200,
             'upload_date': '20201222',
         },
+        'skip': '410 Gone',
     }, {
         'url': 'https://www.3sat.de/gesellschaft/schweizweit/waidmannsheil-100.html',
         'info_dict': {
@@ -30,6 +45,7 @@ class DreiSatIE(ZDFIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
         'params': {
             'skip_download': True,
         },
+        'skip': '404 Not Found',
     }, {
         # Same as https://www.zdf.de/filme/filme-sonstige/der-hauptmann-112.html
         'url': 'https://www.3sat.de/film/spielfilm/der-hauptmann-100.html',
@@ -39,3 +55,14 @@ class DreiSatIE(ZDFIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
         'url': 'https://www.3sat.de/wissen/nano/nano-21-mai-2019-102.html',
         'only_matching': True,
     }]
+
+    def _real_extract(self, url):
+        video_id = self._match_id(url)
+
+        webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id, fatal=False)
+        if webpage:
+            player = self._extract_player(webpage, url, fatal=False)
+            if player:
+                return self._extract_regular(url, player, video_id)
+
+        return self._extract_mobile(video_id)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/extractors.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/extractors.py
index baa69d242..050bed2da 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/extractors.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/extractors.py
@@ -1,28 +1,35 @@
-import contextlib
+import inspect
 import os
 
-from ..plugins import load_plugins
+from ..globals import LAZY_EXTRACTORS
+from ..globals import extractors as _extractors_context
 
-# NB: Must be before other imports so that plugins can be correctly injected
-_PLUGIN_CLASSES = load_plugins('extractor', 'IE')
-
-_LAZY_LOADER = False
+_CLASS_LOOKUP = None
 if not os.environ.get('YTDLP_NO_LAZY_EXTRACTORS'):
-    with contextlib.suppress(ImportError):
-        from .lazy_extractors import *  # noqa: F403
-        from .lazy_extractors import _ALL_CLASSES
-        _LAZY_LOADER = True
+    try:
+        from .lazy_extractors import _CLASS_LOOKUP
+        LAZY_EXTRACTORS.value = True
+    except ImportError:
+        LAZY_EXTRACTORS.value = False
 
-if not _LAZY_LOADER:
-    from ._extractors import *  # noqa: F403
-    _ALL_CLASSES = [  # noqa: F811
-        klass
-        for name, klass in globals().items()
+if not _CLASS_LOOKUP:
+    from . import _extractors
+
+    _CLASS_LOOKUP = {
+        name: value
+        for name, value in inspect.getmembers(_extractors)
         if name.endswith('IE') and name != 'GenericIE'
-    ]
-    _ALL_CLASSES.append(GenericIE)  # noqa: F405
+    }
+    _CLASS_LOOKUP['GenericIE'] = _extractors.GenericIE
 
-globals().update(_PLUGIN_CLASSES)
-_ALL_CLASSES[:0] = _PLUGIN_CLASSES.values()
+# We want to append to the main lookup
+_current = _extractors_context.value
+for name, ie in _CLASS_LOOKUP.items():
+    _current.setdefault(name, ie)
 
-from .common import _PLUGIN_OVERRIDES  # noqa: F401
+
+def __getattr__(name):
+    value = _CLASS_LOOKUP.get(name)
+    if not value:
+        raise AttributeError(f'module {__name__} has no attribute {name}')
+    return value
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py
index c6036b306..5c9f8e36d 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
     ExtractorError,
     clean_html,
     determine_ext,
+    extract_attributes,
     filter_dict,
     format_field,
     int_or_none,
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@
     unsmuggle_url,
     url_or_none,
 )
-from ..utils.traversal import traverse_obj
+from ..utils.traversal import find_element, traverse_obj
 
 
 class FranceTVBaseInfoExtractor(InfoExtractor):
@@ -460,11 +461,16 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 self.url_result(dailymotion_url, DailymotionIE.ie_key())
                 for dailymotion_url in dailymotion_urls])
 
-        video_id = self._search_regex(
-            (r'player\.load[^;]+src:\s*["\']([^"\']+)',
-             r'id-video=([^@]+@[^"]+)',
-             r'<a[^>]+href="(?:https?:)?//videos\.francetv\.fr/video/([^@]+@[^"]+)"',
-             r'(?:data-id|<figure[^<]+\bid)=["\']([\da-f]{8}-[\da-f]{4}-[\da-f]{4}-[\da-f]{4}-[\da-f]{12})'),
-            webpage, 'video id')
+        video_id = (
+            traverse_obj(webpage, (
+                {find_element(tag='button', attr='data-cy', value='francetv-player-wrapper', html=True)},
+                {extract_attributes}, 'id'))
+            or self._search_regex(
+                (r'player\.load[^;]+src:\s*["\']([^"\']+)',
+                 r'id-video=([^@]+@[^"]+)',
+                 r'<a[^>]+href="(?:https?:)?//videos\.francetv\.fr/video/([^@]+@[^"]+)"',
+                 r'(?:data-id|<figure[^<]+\bid)=["\']([\da-f]{8}-[\da-f]{4}-[\da-f]{4}-[\da-f]{4}-[\da-f]{12})'),
+                webpage, 'video id')
+        )
 
         return self._make_url_result(video_id, url=url)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py
index 39354bfc8..94a685cd8 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/instagram.py
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ def _query_vars_for(data):
 
 
 class InstagramStoryIE(InstagramBaseIE):
-    _VALID_URL = r'https?://(?:www\.)?instagram\.com/stories/(?P<user>[^/]+)/(?P<id>\d+)'
+    _VALID_URL = r'https?://(?:www\.)?instagram\.com/stories/(?P<user>[^/?#]+)(?:/(?P<id>\d+))?'
     IE_NAME = 'instagram:story'
 
     _TESTS = [{
@@ -705,25 +705,38 @@ class InstagramStoryIE(InstagramBaseIE):
             'title': 'Rare',
         },
         'playlist_mincount': 50,
+    }, {
+        'url': 'https://www.instagram.com/stories/fruits_zipper/3570766765028588805/',
+        'only_matching': True,
+    }, {
+        'url': 'https://www.instagram.com/stories/fruits_zipper',
+        'only_matching': True,
     }]
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
-        username, story_id = self._match_valid_url(url).groups()
-        story_info = self._download_webpage(url, story_id)
-        user_info = self._search_json(r'"user":', story_info, 'user info', story_id, fatal=False)
+        username, story_id = self._match_valid_url(url).group('user', 'id')
+        if username == 'highlights' and not story_id:  # story id is only mandatory for highlights
+            raise ExtractorError('Input URL is missing a highlight ID', expected=True)
+        display_id = story_id or username
+        story_info = self._download_webpage(url, display_id)
+        user_info = self._search_json(r'"user":', story_info, 'user info', display_id, fatal=False)
         if not user_info:
             self.raise_login_required('This content is unreachable')
 
         user_id = traverse_obj(user_info, 'pk', 'id', expected_type=str)
-        story_info_url = user_id if username != 'highlights' else f'highlight:{story_id}'
-        if not story_info_url:  # user id is only mandatory for non-highlights
-            raise ExtractorError('Unable to extract user id')
+        if username == 'highlights':
+            story_info_url = f'highlight:{story_id}'
+        else:
+            if not user_id:  # user id is only mandatory for non-highlights
+                raise ExtractorError('Unable to extract user id')
+            story_info_url = user_id
 
         videos = traverse_obj(self._download_json(
             f'{self._API_BASE_URL}/feed/reels_media/?reel_ids={story_info_url}',
-            story_id, errnote=False, fatal=False, headers=self._api_headers), 'reels')
+            display_id, errnote=False, fatal=False, headers=self._api_headers), 'reels')
         if not videos:
             self.raise_login_required('You need to log in to access this content')
+        user_info = traverse_obj(videos, (user_id, 'user', {dict})) or {}
 
         full_name = traverse_obj(videos, (f'highlight:{story_id}', 'user', 'full_name'), (user_id, 'user', 'full_name'))
         story_title = traverse_obj(videos, (f'highlight:{story_id}', 'title'))
@@ -733,6 +746,7 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
         highlights = traverse_obj(videos, (f'highlight:{story_id}', 'items'), (user_id, 'items'))
         info_data = []
         for highlight in highlights:
+            highlight.setdefault('user', {}).update(user_info)
             highlight_data = self._extract_product(highlight)
             if highlight_data.get('formats'):
                 info_data.append({
@@ -740,4 +754,7 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                     'uploader_id': user_id,
                     **filter_dict(highlight_data),
                 })
+        if username != 'highlights' and story_id and not self._yes_playlist(username, story_id):
+            return traverse_obj(info_data, (lambda _, v: v['id'] == _pk_to_id(story_id), any))
+
         return self.playlist_result(info_data, playlist_id=story_id, playlist_title=story_title)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py
index 2f04de9e2..77a22777b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py
@@ -13,11 +13,13 @@
     ExtractorError,
     OnDemandPagedList,
     clean_html,
+    determine_ext,
     float_or_none,
     int_or_none,
     join_nonempty,
     parse_duration,
     parse_iso8601,
+    parse_qs,
     parse_resolution,
     qualities,
     remove_start,
@@ -1033,6 +1035,7 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 thumbnails.append({
                     'id': f'{name}_{width}x{height}',
                     'url': img_url,
+                    'ext': traverse_obj(parse_qs(img_url), ('image', 0, {determine_ext(default_ext='jpg')})),
                     **res,
                 })
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/pbs.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/pbs.py
index 2f839a2e9..53b199415 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/pbs.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/pbs.py
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ def _extract_webpage(self, url):
                 r"div\s*:\s*'videoembed'\s*,\s*mediaid\s*:\s*'(\d+)'",  # frontline video embed
                 r'class="coveplayerid">([^<]+)<',                       # coveplayer
                 r'<section[^>]+data-coveid="(\d+)"',                    # coveplayer from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/real-csi/
-                r'\bclass="passportcoveplayer"[^>]+\bdata-media="(\d+)',  # https://www.thirteen.org/programs/the-woodwrights-shop/who-wrote-the-book-of-sloyd-fggvvq/
+                r'\sclass="passportcoveplayer"[^>]*\sdata-media="(\d+)',  # https://www.thirteen.org/programs/the-woodwrights-shop/who-wrote-the-book-of-sloyd-fggvvq/
                 r'<input type="hidden" id="pbs_video_id_[0-9]+" value="([0-9]+)"/>',  # jwplayer
                 r"(?s)window\.PBS\.playerConfig\s*=\s*{.*?id\s*:\s*'([0-9]+)',",
                 r'<div[^>]+\bdata-cove-id=["\'](\d+)"',  # http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/watch/episode/2105-indianapolis-hour-2/
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py
index eafa306f2..c70940a60 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ class SoundcloudBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
     _API_VERIFY_AUTH_TOKEN = 'https://api-auth.soundcloud.com/connect/session%s'
     _HEADERS = {}
 
-    _IMAGE_REPL_RE = r'-([0-9a-z]+)\.jpg'
+    _IMAGE_REPL_RE = r'-[0-9a-z]+\.(?P<ext>jpg|png)'
+    _TAGS_RE = re.compile(r'"([^"]+)"|([^ ]+)')
 
     _ARTWORK_MAP = {
         'mini': 16,
@@ -331,12 +332,14 @@ def invalid_url(url):
         thumbnails = []
         artwork_url = info.get('artwork_url')
         thumbnail = artwork_url or user.get('avatar_url')
-        if isinstance(thumbnail, str):
-            if re.search(self._IMAGE_REPL_RE, thumbnail):
+        if url_or_none(thumbnail):
+            if mobj := re.search(self._IMAGE_REPL_RE, thumbnail):
                 for image_id, size in self._ARTWORK_MAP.items():
+                    # Soundcloud serves JPEG regardless of URL's ext *except* for "original" thumb
+                    ext = mobj.group('ext') if image_id == 'original' else 'jpg'
                     i = {
                         'id': image_id,
-                        'url': re.sub(self._IMAGE_REPL_RE, f'-{image_id}.jpg', thumbnail),
+                        'url': re.sub(self._IMAGE_REPL_RE, f'-{image_id}.{ext}', thumbnail),
                     }
                     if image_id == 'tiny' and not artwork_url:
                         size = 18
@@ -372,6 +375,7 @@ def extract_count(key):
             'comment_count': extract_count('comment'),
             'repost_count': extract_count('reposts'),
             'genres': traverse_obj(info, ('genre', {str}, filter, all, filter)),
+            'tags': traverse_obj(info, ('tag_list', {self._TAGS_RE.findall}, ..., ..., filter)),
             'artists': traverse_obj(info, ('publisher_metadata', 'artist', {str}, filter, all, filter)),
             'formats': formats if not extract_flat else None,
         }
@@ -425,6 +429,7 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'repost_count': int,
                 'thumbnail': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000031955188-rwb18x-original.jpg',
                 'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/ethmusic',
+                'tags': 'count:14',
             },
         },
         # geo-restricted
@@ -440,7 +445,7 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'uploader_id': '9615865',
                 'timestamp': 1337635207,
                 'upload_date': '20120521',
-                'duration': 227.155,
+                'duration': 227.103,
                 'license': 'all-rights-reserved',
                 'view_count': int,
                 'like_count': int,
@@ -450,6 +455,7 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'thumbnail': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-v8bFHhXm7Au6-0-original.jpg',
                 'genres': ['Alternative'],
                 'artists': ['The Royal Concept'],
+                'tags': [],
             },
         },
         # private link
@@ -475,6 +481,7 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/jaimemf',
                 'thumbnail': 'https://a1.sndcdn.com/images/default_avatar_large.png',
                 'genres': ['youtubedl'],
+                'tags': [],
             },
         },
         # private link (alt format)
@@ -500,15 +507,16 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/jaimemf',
                 'thumbnail': 'https://a1.sndcdn.com/images/default_avatar_large.png',
                 'genres': ['youtubedl'],
+                'tags': [],
             },
         },
         # downloadable song
         {
             'url': 'https://soundcloud.com/the80m/the-following',
-            'md5': '9ffcddb08c87d74fb5808a3c183a1d04',
+            'md5': 'ecb87d7705d5f53e6c02a63760573c75',  # wav: '9ffcddb08c87d74fb5808a3c183a1d04'
             'info_dict': {
                 'id': '343609555',
-                'ext': 'wav',
+                'ext': 'opus',  # wav original available with auth
                 'title': 'The Following',
                 'track': 'The Following',
                 'description': '',
@@ -526,15 +534,18 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'view_count': int,
                 'genres': ['Dance & EDM'],
                 'artists': ['80M'],
+                'tags': ['80M', 'EDM', 'Dance', 'Music'],
             },
+            'expected_warnings': ['Original download format is only available for registered users'],
         },
         # private link, downloadable format
+        # tags with spaces (e.g. "Uplifting Trance", "Ori Uplift")
         {
             'url': 'https://soundcloud.com/oriuplift/uponly-238-no-talking-wav/s-AyZUd',
-            'md5': '64a60b16e617d41d0bef032b7f55441e',
+            'md5': '2e1530d0e9986a833a67cb34fc90ece0',  # wav: '64a60b16e617d41d0bef032b7f55441e'
             'info_dict': {
                 'id': '340344461',
-                'ext': 'wav',
+                'ext': 'opus',  # wav original available with auth
                 'title': 'Uplifting Only 238 [No Talking] (incl. Alex Feed Guestmix) (Aug 31, 2017) [wav]',
                 'track': 'Uplifting Only 238 [No Talking] (incl. Alex Feed Guestmix) (Aug 31, 2017) [wav]',
                 'description': 'md5:fa20ee0fca76a3d6df8c7e57f3715366',
@@ -552,7 +563,9 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/oriuplift',
                 'genres': ['Trance'],
                 'artists': ['Ori Uplift'],
+                'tags': ['Orchestral', 'Emotional', 'Uplifting Trance', 'Trance', 'Ori Uplift', 'UpOnly'],
             },
+            'expected_warnings': ['Original download format is only available for registered users'],
         },
         # no album art, use avatar pic for thumbnail
         {
@@ -577,6 +590,7 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'repost_count': int,
                 'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/garyvee',
                 'artists': ['MadReal'],
+                'tags': [],
             },
             'params': {
                 'skip_download': True,
@@ -604,8 +618,47 @@ class SoundcloudIE(SoundcloudBaseIE):
                 'repost_count': int,
                 'genres': ['Piano'],
                 'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/giovannisarani',
+                'tags': 'count:10',
             },
         },
+        # .png "original" artwork, 160kbps m4a HLS format
+        {
+            'url': 'https://soundcloud.com/skorxh/audio-dealer',
+            'info_dict': {
+                'id': '2011421339',
+                'ext': 'm4a',
+                'title': 'audio dealer',
+                'description': '',
+                'uploader': '$KORCH',
+                'uploader_id': '150292288',
+                'uploader_url': 'https://soundcloud.com/skorxh',
+                'comment_count': int,
+                'view_count': int,
+                'like_count': int,
+                'repost_count': int,
+                'duration': 213.469,
+                'tags': [],
+                'artists': ['$KORXH'],
+                'track': 'audio dealer',
+                'timestamp': 1737143201,
+                'upload_date': '20250117',
+                'license': 'all-rights-reserved',
+                'thumbnail': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-original.png',
+                'thumbnails': [
+                    {'id': 'mini', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-mini.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 'tiny', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-tiny.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 'small', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-small.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 'badge', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-badge.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 't67x67', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-t67x67.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 'large', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-large.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 't300x300', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-t300x300.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 'crop', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-crop.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 't500x500', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-t500x500.jpg'},
+                    {'id': 'original', 'url': 'https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-a1wKGMYNreDLTMrT-fGjRiw-original.png'},
+                ],
+            },
+            'params': {'skip_download': 'm3u8', 'format': 'hls_aac_160k'},
+        },
         {
             # AAC HQ format available (account with active subscription needed)
             'url': 'https://soundcloud.com/wandw/the-chainsmokers-ft-daya-dont-let-me-down-ww-remix-1',
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/sovietscloset.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/sovietscloset.py
index 773ddd344..d35214aa8 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/sovietscloset.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/sovietscloset.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
+from .bunnycdn import BunnyCdnIE
 from .common import InfoExtractor
-from ..utils import try_get, unified_timestamp
+from ..utils import make_archive_id, try_get, unified_timestamp
 
 
 class SovietsClosetBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class SovietsClosetIE(SovietsClosetBaseIE):
             'url': 'https://sovietscloset.com/video/1337',
             'md5': 'bd012b04b261725510ca5383074cdd55',
             'info_dict': {
-                'id': '1337',
+                'id': '2f0cfbf4-3588-43a9-a7d6-7c9ea3755e67',
                 'ext': 'mp4',
                 'title': 'The Witcher #13',
                 'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.b-cdn\.net/2f0cfbf4-3588-43a9-a7d6-7c9ea3755e67/thumbnail\.jpg$',
@@ -55,20 +56,23 @@ class SovietsClosetIE(SovietsClosetBaseIE):
                 'upload_date': '20170413',
                 'uploader_id': 'SovietWomble',
                 'uploader_url': 'https://www.twitch.tv/SovietWomble',
-                'duration': 7007,
+                'duration': 7008,
                 'was_live': True,
                 'availability': 'public',
                 'series': 'The Witcher',
                 'season': 'Misc',
                 'episode_number': 13,
                 'episode': 'Episode 13',
+                'creators': ['SovietWomble'],
+                'description': '',
+                '_old_archive_ids': ['sovietscloset 1337'],
             },
         },
         {
             'url': 'https://sovietscloset.com/video/1105',
             'md5': '89fa928f183893cb65a0b7be846d8a90',
             'info_dict': {
-                'id': '1105',
+                'id': 'c0e5e76f-3a93-40b4-bf01-12343c2eec5d',
                 'ext': 'mp4',
                 'title': 'Arma 3 - Zeus Games #5',
                 'uploader': 'SovietWomble',
@@ -80,39 +84,20 @@ class SovietsClosetIE(SovietsClosetBaseIE):
                 'upload_date': '20160420',
                 'uploader_id': 'SovietWomble',
                 'uploader_url': 'https://www.twitch.tv/SovietWomble',
-                'duration': 8804,
+                'duration': 8805,
                 'was_live': True,
                 'availability': 'public',
                 'series': 'Arma 3',
                 'season': 'Zeus Games',
                 'episode_number': 5,
                 'episode': 'Episode 5',
+                'creators': ['SovietWomble'],
+                'description': '',
+                '_old_archive_ids': ['sovietscloset 1105'],
             },
         },
     ]
 
-    def _extract_bunnycdn_iframe(self, video_id, bunnycdn_id):
-        iframe = self._download_webpage(
-            f'https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/5105/{bunnycdn_id}',
-            video_id, note='Downloading BunnyCDN iframe', headers=self.MEDIADELIVERY_REFERER)
-
-        m3u8_url = self._search_regex(r'(https?://.*?\.m3u8)', iframe, 'm3u8 url')
-        thumbnail_url = self._search_regex(r'(https?://.*?thumbnail\.jpg)', iframe, 'thumbnail url')
-
-        m3u8_formats = self._extract_m3u8_formats(m3u8_url, video_id, headers=self.MEDIADELIVERY_REFERER)
-
-        if not m3u8_formats:
-            duration = None
-        else:
-            duration = self._extract_m3u8_vod_duration(
-                m3u8_formats[0]['url'], video_id, headers=self.MEDIADELIVERY_REFERER)
-
-        return {
-            'formats': m3u8_formats,
-            'thumbnail': thumbnail_url,
-            'duration': duration,
-        }
-
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         video_id = self._match_id(url)
         webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id)
@@ -122,13 +107,13 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
 
         stream = self.parse_nuxt_jsonp(f'{static_assets_base}/video/{video_id}/payload.js', video_id, 'video')['stream']
 
-        return {
+        return self.url_result(
+            f'https://iframe.mediadelivery.net/embed/5105/{stream["bunnyId"]}', ie=BunnyCdnIE, url_transparent=True,
             **self.video_meta(
                 video_id=video_id, game_name=stream['game']['name'],
                 category_name=try_get(stream, lambda x: x['subcategory']['name'], str),
                 episode_number=stream.get('number'), stream_date=stream.get('date')),
-            **self._extract_bunnycdn_iframe(video_id, stream['bunnyId']),
-        }
+            _old_archive_ids=[make_archive_id(self, video_id)])
 
 
 class SovietsClosetPlaylistIE(SovietsClosetBaseIE):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py
index 9e53b3407..19336252b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py
@@ -249,6 +249,12 @@ def _extract_web_data_and_status(self, url, video_id, fatal=True):
         elif fatal:
             raise ExtractorError('Unable to extract webpage video data')
 
+        if not traverse_obj(video_data, ('video', {dict})) and traverse_obj(video_data, ('isContentClassified', {bool})):
+            message = 'This post may not be comfortable for some audiences. Log in for access'
+            if fatal:
+                self.raise_login_required(message)
+            self.report_warning(f'{message}. {self._login_hint()}', video_id=video_id)
+
         return video_data, status
 
     def _get_subtitles(self, aweme_detail, aweme_id, user_name):
@@ -895,8 +901,12 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
 
         if video_data and status == 0:
             return self._parse_aweme_video_web(video_data, url, video_id)
-        elif status == 10216:
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is private', expected=True)
+        elif status in (10216, 10222):
+            # 10216: private post; 10222: private account
+            self.raise_login_required(
+                'You do not have permission to view this post. Log into an account that has access')
+        elif status == 10204:
+            raise ExtractorError('Your IP address is blocked from accessing this post', expected=True)
         raise ExtractorError(f'Video not available, status code {status}', video_id=video_id)
 
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/wsj.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/wsj.py
index b6b656f7d..7cf46141c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/wsj.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/wsj.py
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
 
 
 class WSJArticleIE(InfoExtractor):
-    _VALID_URL = r'(?i)https?://(?:www\.)?wsj\.com/articles/(?P<id>[^/?#&]+)'
-    _TEST = {
+    _VALID_URL = r'(?i)https?://(?:www\.)?wsj\.com/(?:articles|opinion)/(?P<id>[^/?#&]+)'
+    _TESTS = [{
         'url': 'https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-like-china-no-pandas-for-you-1490366939?',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': '4B13FA62-1D8C-45DB-8EA1-4105CB20B362',
@@ -110,11 +110,20 @@ class WSJArticleIE(InfoExtractor):
             'uploader_id': 'ralcaraz',
             'title': 'Bao Bao the Panda Leaves for China',
         },
-    }
+    }, {
+        'url': 'https://www.wsj.com/opinion/hamas-hostages-caskets-bibas-family-israel-gaza-29da083b',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': 'CE68D629-8DB8-4CD3-B30A-92112C102054',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'upload_date': '20241007',
+            'uploader_id': 'Tinnes, David',
+            'title': 'WSJ Opinion: "Get the Jew": The Crown Heights Riot Revisited',
+        },
+    }]
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         article_id = self._match_id(url)
-        webpage = self._download_webpage(url, article_id)
+        webpage = self._download_webpage(url, article_id, impersonate=True)
         video_id = self._search_regex(
             r'(?:id=["\']video|video-|iframe\.html\?guid=|data-src=["\'])([a-fA-F0-9-]{36})',
             webpage, 'video id')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
index 738ade1b0..4dc80fe28 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -857,6 +857,18 @@ def generate_api_headers(
         }
         return filter_dict(headers)
 
+    def _download_webpage_with_retries(self, *args, retry_fatal=False, retry_on_status=None, **kwargs):
+        for retry in self.RetryManager(fatal=retry_fatal):
+            try:
+                return self._download_webpage(*args, **kwargs)
+            except ExtractorError as e:
+                if isinstance(e.cause, network_exceptions):
+                    if not isinstance(e.cause, HTTPError) or e.cause.status not in (retry_on_status or (403, 429)):
+                        retry.error = e
+                        continue
+                self._error_or_warning(e, fatal=retry_fatal)
+                break
+
     def _download_ytcfg(self, client, video_id):
         url = {
             'web': 'https://www.youtube.com',
@@ -866,8 +878,8 @@ def _download_ytcfg(self, client, video_id):
         }.get(client)
         if not url:
             return {}
-        webpage = self._download_webpage(
-            url, video_id, fatal=False, note=f'Downloading {client.replace("_", " ").strip()} client config',
+        webpage = self._download_webpage_with_retries(
+            url, video_id, note=f'Downloading {client.replace("_", " ").strip()} client config',
             headers=traverse_obj(self._get_default_ytcfg(client), {
                 'User-Agent': ('INNERTUBE_CONTEXT', 'client', 'userAgent', {str}),
             }))
@@ -3135,15 +3147,22 @@ def _extract_player_url(self, *ytcfgs, webpage=None):
             get_all=False, expected_type=str)
         if not player_url:
             return
+        # TODO: Add proper support for the 'tce' variant players
+        # See https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/12398
+        if '/player_ias_tce.vflset/' in player_url:
+            self.write_debug(f'Modifying tce player URL: {player_url}')
+            player_url = player_url.replace('/player_ias_tce.vflset/', '/player_ias.vflset/')
         return urljoin('https://www.youtube.com', player_url)
 
     def _download_player_url(self, video_id, fatal=False):
-        res = self._download_webpage(
+        iframe_webpage = self._download_webpage_with_retries(
             'https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api',
-            note='Downloading iframe API JS', video_id=video_id, fatal=fatal)
-        if res:
+            note='Downloading iframe API JS',
+            video_id=video_id, retry_fatal=fatal)
+
+        if iframe_webpage:
             player_version = self._search_regex(
-                r'player\\?/([0-9a-fA-F]{8})\\?/', res, 'player version', fatal=fatal)
+                r'player\\?/([0-9a-fA-F]{8})\\?/', iframe_webpage, 'player version', fatal=fatal)
             if player_version:
                 return f'https://www.youtube.com/s/player/{player_version}/player_ias.vflset/en_US/base.js'
 
@@ -3369,7 +3388,7 @@ def _fixup_n_function_code(self, argnames, code):
 
     def _extract_n_function_code(self, video_id, player_url):
         player_id = self._extract_player_info(player_url)
-        func_code = self.cache.load('youtube-nsig', player_id, min_ver='2024.07.09')
+        func_code = self.cache.load('youtube-nsig', player_id, min_ver='2025.02.19')
         jscode = func_code or self._load_player(video_id, player_url)
         jsi = JSInterpreter(jscode)
 
@@ -4556,8 +4575,7 @@ def _download_player_responses(self, url, smuggled_data, video_id, webpage_url):
             pp = self._configuration_arg('player_params', [None], casesense=True)[0]
             if pp:
                 query['pp'] = pp
-            webpage = self._download_webpage(
-                webpage_url, video_id, fatal=False, query=query)
+            webpage = self._download_webpage_with_retries(webpage_url, video_id, query=query)
 
         master_ytcfg = self.extract_ytcfg(video_id, webpage) or self._get_default_ytcfg()
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/zdf.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/zdf.py
index b64a88f6c..4bef1017c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/zdf.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/zdf.py
@@ -137,6 +137,116 @@ def _extract_player(self, webpage, video_id, fatal=True):
                 group='json'),
             video_id)
 
+    def _extract_entry(self, url, player, content, video_id):
+        title = content.get('title') or content['teaserHeadline']
+
+        t = content['mainVideoContent']['http://zdf.de/rels/target']
+        ptmd_path = traverse_obj(t, (
+            (('streams', 'default'), None),
+            ('http://zdf.de/rels/streams/ptmd', 'http://zdf.de/rels/streams/ptmd-template'),
+        ), get_all=False)
+        if not ptmd_path:
+            raise ExtractorError('Could not extract ptmd_path')
+
+        info = self._extract_ptmd(
+            urljoin(url, ptmd_path.replace('{playerId}', 'android_native_5')), video_id, player['apiToken'], url)
+
+        thumbnails = []
+        layouts = try_get(
+            content, lambda x: x['teaserImageRef']['layouts'], dict)
+        if layouts:
+            for layout_key, layout_url in layouts.items():
+                layout_url = url_or_none(layout_url)
+                if not layout_url:
+                    continue
+                thumbnail = {
+                    'url': layout_url,
+                    'format_id': layout_key,
+                }
+                mobj = re.search(r'(?P<width>\d+)x(?P<height>\d+)', layout_key)
+                if mobj:
+                    thumbnail.update({
+                        'width': int(mobj.group('width')),
+                        'height': int(mobj.group('height')),
+                    })
+                thumbnails.append(thumbnail)
+
+        chapter_marks = t.get('streamAnchorTag') or []
+        chapter_marks.append({'anchorOffset': int_or_none(t.get('duration'))})
+        chapters = [{
+            'start_time': chap.get('anchorOffset'),
+            'end_time': next_chap.get('anchorOffset'),
+            'title': chap.get('anchorLabel'),
+        } for chap, next_chap in zip(chapter_marks, chapter_marks[1:])]
+
+        return merge_dicts(info, {
+            'title': title,
+            'description': content.get('leadParagraph') or content.get('teasertext'),
+            'duration': int_or_none(t.get('duration')),
+            'timestamp': unified_timestamp(content.get('editorialDate')),
+            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
+            'chapters': chapters or None,
+            'episode': title,
+            **traverse_obj(content, ('programmeItem', 0, 'http://zdf.de/rels/target', {
+                'series_id': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/series', 'seriesUuid', {str}),
+                'series': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/series', 'seriesTitle', {str}),
+                'season': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/season', 'seasonTitle', {str}),
+                'season_number': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/season', 'seasonNumber', {int_or_none}),
+                'season_id': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/season', 'seasonUuid', {str}),
+                'episode_number': ('episodeNumber', {int_or_none}),
+                'episode_id': ('contentId', {str}),
+            })),
+        })
+
+    def _extract_regular(self, url, player, video_id, query=None):
+        player_url = player['content']
+
+        content = self._call_api(
+            update_url_query(player_url, query),
+            video_id, 'content', player['apiToken'], url)
+
+        return self._extract_entry(player_url, player, content, video_id)
+
+    def _extract_mobile(self, video_id):
+        video = self._download_v2_doc(video_id)
+
+        formats = []
+        formitaeten = try_get(video, lambda x: x['document']['formitaeten'], list)
+        document = formitaeten and video['document']
+        if formitaeten:
+            title = document['titel']
+            content_id = document['basename']
+
+            format_urls = set()
+            for f in formitaeten or []:
+                self._extract_format(content_id, formats, format_urls, f)
+
+        thumbnails = []
+        teaser_bild = document.get('teaserBild')
+        if isinstance(teaser_bild, dict):
+            for thumbnail_key, thumbnail in teaser_bild.items():
+                thumbnail_url = try_get(
+                    thumbnail, lambda x: x['url'], str)
+                if thumbnail_url:
+                    thumbnails.append({
+                        'url': thumbnail_url,
+                        'id': thumbnail_key,
+                        'width': int_or_none(thumbnail.get('width')),
+                        'height': int_or_none(thumbnail.get('height')),
+                    })
+
+        return {
+            'id': content_id,
+            'title': title,
+            'description': document.get('beschreibung'),
+            'duration': int_or_none(document.get('length')),
+            'timestamp': unified_timestamp(document.get('date')) or unified_timestamp(
+                try_get(video, lambda x: x['meta']['editorialDate'], str)),
+            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
+            'subtitles': self._extract_subtitles(document),
+            'formats': formats,
+        }
+
 
 class ZDFIE(ZDFBaseIE):
     _VALID_URL = r'https?://www\.zdf\.de/(?:[^/]+/)*(?P<id>[^/?#&]+)\.html'
@@ -306,121 +416,6 @@ class ZDFIE(ZDFBaseIE):
         },
     }]
 
-    def _extract_entry(self, url, player, content, video_id):
-        title = content.get('title') or content['teaserHeadline']
-
-        t = content['mainVideoContent']['http://zdf.de/rels/target']
-        ptmd_path = traverse_obj(t, (
-            (('streams', 'default'), None),
-            ('http://zdf.de/rels/streams/ptmd', 'http://zdf.de/rels/streams/ptmd-template'),
-        ), get_all=False)
-        if not ptmd_path:
-            raise ExtractorError('Could not extract ptmd_path')
-
-        info = self._extract_ptmd(
-            urljoin(url, ptmd_path.replace('{playerId}', 'android_native_5')), video_id, player['apiToken'], url)
-
-        thumbnails = []
-        layouts = try_get(
-            content, lambda x: x['teaserImageRef']['layouts'], dict)
-        if layouts:
-            for layout_key, layout_url in layouts.items():
-                layout_url = url_or_none(layout_url)
-                if not layout_url:
-                    continue
-                thumbnail = {
-                    'url': layout_url,
-                    'format_id': layout_key,
-                }
-                mobj = re.search(r'(?P<width>\d+)x(?P<height>\d+)', layout_key)
-                if mobj:
-                    thumbnail.update({
-                        'width': int(mobj.group('width')),
-                        'height': int(mobj.group('height')),
-                    })
-                thumbnails.append(thumbnail)
-
-        chapter_marks = t.get('streamAnchorTag') or []
-        chapter_marks.append({'anchorOffset': int_or_none(t.get('duration'))})
-        chapters = [{
-            'start_time': chap.get('anchorOffset'),
-            'end_time': next_chap.get('anchorOffset'),
-            'title': chap.get('anchorLabel'),
-        } for chap, next_chap in zip(chapter_marks, chapter_marks[1:])]
-
-        return merge_dicts(info, {
-            'title': title,
-            'description': content.get('leadParagraph') or content.get('teasertext'),
-            'duration': int_or_none(t.get('duration')),
-            'timestamp': unified_timestamp(content.get('editorialDate')),
-            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
-            'chapters': chapters or None,
-            'episode': title,
-            **traverse_obj(content, ('programmeItem', 0, 'http://zdf.de/rels/target', {
-                'series_id': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/series', 'seriesUuid', {str}),
-                'series': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/series', 'seriesTitle', {str}),
-                'season': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/season', 'seasonTitle', {str}),
-                'season_number': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/season', 'seasonNumber', {int_or_none}),
-                'season_id': ('http://zdf.de/rels/cmdm/season', 'seasonUuid', {str}),
-                'episode_number': ('episodeNumber', {int_or_none}),
-                'episode_id': ('contentId', {str}),
-            })),
-        })
-
-    def _extract_regular(self, url, player, video_id):
-        player_url = player['content']
-
-        try:
-            content = self._call_api(
-                update_url_query(player_url, {'profile': 'player-3'}),
-                video_id, 'content', player['apiToken'], url)
-        except ExtractorError as e:
-            self.report_warning(f'{video_id}: {e.orig_msg}; retrying with v2 profile')
-            content = self._call_api(
-                player_url, video_id, 'content', player['apiToken'], url)
-
-        return self._extract_entry(player_url, player, content, video_id)
-
-    def _extract_mobile(self, video_id):
-        video = self._download_v2_doc(video_id)
-
-        formats = []
-        formitaeten = try_get(video, lambda x: x['document']['formitaeten'], list)
-        document = formitaeten and video['document']
-        if formitaeten:
-            title = document['titel']
-            content_id = document['basename']
-
-            format_urls = set()
-            for f in formitaeten or []:
-                self._extract_format(content_id, formats, format_urls, f)
-
-        thumbnails = []
-        teaser_bild = document.get('teaserBild')
-        if isinstance(teaser_bild, dict):
-            for thumbnail_key, thumbnail in teaser_bild.items():
-                thumbnail_url = try_get(
-                    thumbnail, lambda x: x['url'], str)
-                if thumbnail_url:
-                    thumbnails.append({
-                        'url': thumbnail_url,
-                        'id': thumbnail_key,
-                        'width': int_or_none(thumbnail.get('width')),
-                        'height': int_or_none(thumbnail.get('height')),
-                    })
-
-        return {
-            'id': content_id,
-            'title': title,
-            'description': document.get('beschreibung'),
-            'duration': int_or_none(document.get('length')),
-            'timestamp': unified_timestamp(document.get('date')) or unified_timestamp(
-                try_get(video, lambda x: x['meta']['editorialDate'], str)),
-            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
-            'subtitles': self._extract_subtitles(document),
-            'formats': formats,
-        }
-
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         video_id = self._match_id(url)
 
@@ -428,7 +423,7 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
         if webpage:
             player = self._extract_player(webpage, url, fatal=False)
             if player:
-                return self._extract_regular(url, player, video_id)
+                return self._extract_regular(url, player, video_id, query={'profile': 'player-3'})
 
         return self._extract_mobile(video_id)
 
@@ -474,7 +469,8 @@ def _extract_entry(self, entry):
                 'title': ('titel', {str}),
                 'description': ('beschreibung', {str}),
                 'duration': ('length', {float_or_none}),
-                # TODO: seasonNumber and episodeNumber can be extracted but need to also be in ZDFIE
+                'season_number': ('seasonNumber', {int_or_none}),
+                'episode_number': ('episodeNumber', {int_or_none}),
             }))
 
     def _entries(self, data, document_id):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/globals.py b/yt_dlp/globals.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e1c189d5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yt_dlp/globals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from collections import defaultdict
+
+# Please Note: Due to necessary changes and the complex nature involved in the plugin/globals system,
+# no backwards compatibility is guaranteed for the plugin system API.
+# However, we will still try our best.
+
+
+class Indirect:
+    def __init__(self, initial, /):
+        self.value = initial
+
+    def __repr__(self, /):
+        return f'{type(self).__name__}({self.value!r})'
+
+
+postprocessors = Indirect({})
+extractors = Indirect({})
+
+# Plugins
+all_plugins_loaded = Indirect(False)
+plugin_specs = Indirect({})
+plugin_dirs = Indirect(['default'])
+
+plugin_ies = Indirect({})
+plugin_pps = Indirect({})
+plugin_ies_overrides = Indirect(defaultdict(list))
+
+# Misc
+IN_CLI = Indirect(False)
+LAZY_EXTRACTORS = Indirect(False)  # `False`=force, `None`=disabled, `True`=enabled
diff --git a/yt_dlp/options.py b/yt_dlp/options.py
index 06b65e0ea..91c2635a7 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/options.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/options.py
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def _alias_callback(option, opt_str, value, parser, opts, nargs):
             '(Alias: --no-config)'))
     general.add_option(
         '--no-config-locations',
-        action='store_const', dest='config_locations', const=[],
+        action='store_const', dest='config_locations', const=None,
         help=(
             'Do not load any custom configuration files (default). When given inside a '
             'configuration file, ignore all previous --config-locations defined in the current file'))
@@ -410,12 +410,21 @@ def _alias_callback(option, opt_str, value, parser, opts, nargs):
             '("-" for stdin). Can be used multiple times and inside other configuration files'))
     general.add_option(
         '--plugin-dirs',
-        dest='plugin_dirs', metavar='PATH', action='append',
+        metavar='PATH',
+        dest='plugin_dirs',
+        action='callback',
+        callback=_list_from_options_callback,
+        type='str',
+        callback_kwargs={'delim': None},
+        default=['default'],
         help=(
             'Path to an additional directory to search for plugins. '
             'This option can be used multiple times to add multiple directories. '
-            'Note that this currently only works for extractor plugins; '
-            'postprocessor plugins can only be loaded from the default plugin directories'))
+            'Use "default" to search the default plugin directories (default)'))
+    general.add_option(
+        '--no-plugin-dirs',
+        dest='plugin_dirs', action='store_const', const=[],
+        help='Clear plugin directories to search, including defaults and those provided by previous --plugin-dirs')
     general.add_option(
         '--flat-playlist',
         action='store_const', dest='extract_flat', const='in_playlist', default=False,
diff --git a/yt_dlp/plugins.py b/yt_dlp/plugins.py
index 94335a9a3..941709b21 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/plugins.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/plugins.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import contextlib
+import dataclasses
 import functools
 import importlib
 import importlib.abc
@@ -14,17 +15,48 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from zipfile import ZipFile
 
+from .globals import (
+    Indirect,
+    plugin_dirs,
+    all_plugins_loaded,
+    plugin_specs,
+)
+
 from .utils import (
-    Config,
     get_executable_path,
     get_system_config_dirs,
     get_user_config_dirs,
+    merge_dicts,
     orderedSet,
     write_string,
 )
 
 PACKAGE_NAME = 'yt_dlp_plugins'
 COMPAT_PACKAGE_NAME = 'ytdlp_plugins'
+_BASE_PACKAGE_PATH = Path(__file__).parent
+
+
+# Please Note: Due to necessary changes and the complex nature involved,
+# no backwards compatibility is guaranteed for the plugin system API.
+# However, we will still try our best.
+
+__all__ = [
+    'COMPAT_PACKAGE_NAME',
+    'PACKAGE_NAME',
+    'PluginSpec',
+    'directories',
+    'load_all_plugins',
+    'load_plugins',
+    'register_plugin_spec',
+]
+
+
+@dataclasses.dataclass
+class PluginSpec:
+    module_name: str
+    suffix: str
+    destination: Indirect
+    plugin_destination: Indirect
 
 
 class PluginLoader(importlib.abc.Loader):
@@ -44,7 +76,42 @@ def dirs_in_zip(archive):
         pass
     except Exception as e:
         write_string(f'WARNING: Could not read zip file {archive}: {e}\n')
-    return set()
+    return ()
+
+
+def default_plugin_paths():
+    def _get_package_paths(*root_paths, containing_folder):
+        for config_dir in orderedSet(map(Path, root_paths), lazy=True):
+            # We need to filter the base path added when running __main__.py directly
+            if config_dir == _BASE_PACKAGE_PATH:
+                continue
+            with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
+                yield from (config_dir / containing_folder).iterdir()
+
+    # Load from yt-dlp config folders
+    yield from _get_package_paths(
+        *get_user_config_dirs('yt-dlp'),
+        *get_system_config_dirs('yt-dlp'),
+        containing_folder='plugins',
+    )
+
+    # Load from yt-dlp-plugins folders
+    yield from _get_package_paths(
+        get_executable_path(),
+        *get_user_config_dirs(''),
+        *get_system_config_dirs(''),
+        containing_folder='yt-dlp-plugins',
+    )
+
+    # Load from PYTHONPATH directories
+    yield from (path for path in map(Path, sys.path) if path != _BASE_PACKAGE_PATH)
+
+
+def candidate_plugin_paths(candidate):
+    candidate_path = Path(candidate)
+    if not candidate_path.is_dir():
+        raise ValueError(f'Invalid plugin directory: {candidate_path}')
+    yield from candidate_path.iterdir()
 
 
 class PluginFinder(importlib.abc.MetaPathFinder):
@@ -56,40 +123,16 @@ class PluginFinder(importlib.abc.MetaPathFinder):
 
     def __init__(self, *packages):
         self._zip_content_cache = {}
-        self.packages = set(itertools.chain.from_iterable(
-            itertools.accumulate(name.split('.'), lambda a, b: '.'.join((a, b)))
-            for name in packages))
+        self.packages = set(
+            itertools.chain.from_iterable(
+                itertools.accumulate(name.split('.'), lambda a, b: '.'.join((a, b)))
+                for name in packages))
 
     def search_locations(self, fullname):
-        candidate_locations = []
-
-        def _get_package_paths(*root_paths, containing_folder='plugins'):
-            for config_dir in orderedSet(map(Path, root_paths), lazy=True):
-                with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
-                    yield from (config_dir / containing_folder).iterdir()
-
-        # Load from yt-dlp config folders
-        candidate_locations.extend(_get_package_paths(
-            *get_user_config_dirs('yt-dlp'),
-            *get_system_config_dirs('yt-dlp'),
-            containing_folder='plugins'))
-
-        # Load from yt-dlp-plugins folders
-        candidate_locations.extend(_get_package_paths(
-            get_executable_path(),
-            *get_user_config_dirs(''),
-            *get_system_config_dirs(''),
-            containing_folder='yt-dlp-plugins'))
-
-        candidate_locations.extend(map(Path, sys.path))  # PYTHONPATH
-        with contextlib.suppress(ValueError):  # Added when running __main__.py directly
-            candidate_locations.remove(Path(__file__).parent)
-
-        # TODO(coletdjnz): remove when plugin globals system is implemented
-        if Config._plugin_dirs:
-            candidate_locations.extend(_get_package_paths(
-                *Config._plugin_dirs,
-                containing_folder=''))
+        candidate_locations = itertools.chain.from_iterable(
+            default_plugin_paths() if candidate == 'default' else candidate_plugin_paths(candidate)
+            for candidate in plugin_dirs.value
+        )
 
         parts = Path(*fullname.split('.'))
         for path in orderedSet(candidate_locations, lazy=True):
@@ -109,7 +152,8 @@ def find_spec(self, fullname, path=None, target=None):
 
         search_locations = list(map(str, self.search_locations(fullname)))
         if not search_locations:
-            return None
+            # Prevent using built-in meta finders for searching plugins.
+            raise ModuleNotFoundError(fullname)
 
         spec = importlib.machinery.ModuleSpec(fullname, PluginLoader(), is_package=True)
         spec.submodule_search_locations = search_locations
@@ -123,8 +167,10 @@ def invalidate_caches(self):
 
 
 def directories():
-    spec = importlib.util.find_spec(PACKAGE_NAME)
-    return spec.submodule_search_locations if spec else []
+    with contextlib.suppress(ModuleNotFoundError):
+        if spec := importlib.util.find_spec(PACKAGE_NAME):
+            return list(spec.submodule_search_locations)
+    return []
 
 
 def iter_modules(subpackage):
@@ -134,19 +180,23 @@ def iter_modules(subpackage):
         yield from pkgutil.iter_modules(path=pkg.__path__, prefix=f'{fullname}.')
 
 
-def load_module(module, module_name, suffix):
+def get_regular_classes(module, module_name, suffix):
+    # Find standard public plugin classes (not overrides)
     return inspect.getmembers(module, lambda obj: (
         inspect.isclass(obj)
         and obj.__name__.endswith(suffix)
         and obj.__module__.startswith(module_name)
         and not obj.__name__.startswith('_')
-        and obj.__name__ in getattr(module, '__all__', [obj.__name__])))
+        and obj.__name__ in getattr(module, '__all__', [obj.__name__])
+        and getattr(obj, 'PLUGIN_NAME', None) is None
+    ))
 
 
-def load_plugins(name, suffix):
-    classes = {}
-    if os.environ.get('YTDLP_NO_PLUGINS'):
-        return classes
+def load_plugins(plugin_spec: PluginSpec):
+    name, suffix = plugin_spec.module_name, plugin_spec.suffix
+    regular_classes = {}
+    if os.environ.get('YTDLP_NO_PLUGINS') or not plugin_dirs.value:
+        return regular_classes
 
     for finder, module_name, _ in iter_modules(name):
         if any(x.startswith('_') for x in module_name.split('.')):
@@ -163,24 +213,42 @@ def load_plugins(name, suffix):
                 sys.modules[module_name] = module
                 spec.loader.exec_module(module)
         except Exception:
-            write_string(f'Error while importing module {module_name!r}\n{traceback.format_exc(limit=-1)}')
+            write_string(
+                f'Error while importing module {module_name!r}\n{traceback.format_exc(limit=-1)}',
+            )
             continue
-        classes.update(load_module(module, module_name, suffix))
+        regular_classes.update(get_regular_classes(module, module_name, suffix))
 
     # Compat: old plugin system using __init__.py
     # Note: plugins imported this way do not show up in directories()
     # nor are considered part of the yt_dlp_plugins namespace package
-    with contextlib.suppress(FileNotFoundError):
-        spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
-            name, Path(get_executable_path(), COMPAT_PACKAGE_NAME, name, '__init__.py'))
-        plugins = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
-        sys.modules[spec.name] = plugins
-        spec.loader.exec_module(plugins)
-        classes.update(load_module(plugins, spec.name, suffix))
+    if 'default' in plugin_dirs.value:
+        with contextlib.suppress(FileNotFoundError):
+            spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
+                name,
+                Path(get_executable_path(), COMPAT_PACKAGE_NAME, name, '__init__.py'),
+            )
+            plugins = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+            sys.modules[spec.name] = plugins
+            spec.loader.exec_module(plugins)
+            regular_classes.update(get_regular_classes(plugins, spec.name, suffix))
 
-    return classes
+    # Add the classes into the global plugin lookup for that type
+    plugin_spec.plugin_destination.value = regular_classes
+    # We want to prepend to the main lookup for that type
+    plugin_spec.destination.value = merge_dicts(regular_classes, plugin_spec.destination.value)
+
+    return regular_classes
 
 
-sys.meta_path.insert(0, PluginFinder(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor', f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor'))
+def load_all_plugins():
+    for plugin_spec in plugin_specs.value.values():
+        load_plugins(plugin_spec)
+    all_plugins_loaded.value = True
 
-__all__ = ['COMPAT_PACKAGE_NAME', 'PACKAGE_NAME', 'directories', 'load_plugins']
+
+def register_plugin_spec(plugin_spec: PluginSpec):
+    # If the plugin spec for a module is already registered, it will not be added again
+    if plugin_spec.module_name not in plugin_specs.value:
+        plugin_specs.value[plugin_spec.module_name] = plugin_spec
+        sys.meta_path.insert(0, PluginFinder(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.{plugin_spec.module_name}'))
diff --git a/yt_dlp/postprocessor/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/postprocessor/__init__.py
index 7b1620544..20e8b14b2 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/postprocessor/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/postprocessor/__init__.py
@@ -33,15 +33,38 @@
 from .sponskrub import SponSkrubPP
 from .sponsorblock import SponsorBlockPP
 from .xattrpp import XAttrMetadataPP
-from ..plugins import load_plugins
+from ..globals import plugin_pps, postprocessors
+from ..plugins import PACKAGE_NAME, register_plugin_spec, PluginSpec
+from ..utils import deprecation_warning
 
-_PLUGIN_CLASSES = load_plugins('postprocessor', 'PP')
+
+def __getattr__(name):
+    lookup = plugin_pps.value
+    if name in lookup:
+        deprecation_warning(
+            f'Importing a plugin Post-Processor from {__name__} is deprecated. '
+            f'Please import {PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor.{name} instead.')
+        return lookup[name]
+
+    raise AttributeError(f'module {__name__!r} has no attribute {name!r}')
 
 
 def get_postprocessor(key):
-    return globals()[key + 'PP']
+    return postprocessors.value[key + 'PP']
 
 
-globals().update(_PLUGIN_CLASSES)
-__all__ = [name for name in globals() if name.endswith('PP')]
-__all__.extend(('FFmpegPostProcessor', 'PostProcessor'))
+register_plugin_spec(PluginSpec(
+    module_name='postprocessor',
+    suffix='PP',
+    destination=postprocessors,
+    plugin_destination=plugin_pps,
+))
+
+_default_pps = {
+    name: value
+    for name, value in globals().items()
+    if name.endswith('PP') or name in ('FFmpegPostProcessor', 'PostProcessor')
+}
+postprocessors.value.update(_default_pps)
+
+__all__ = list(_default_pps.values())
diff --git a/yt_dlp/postprocessor/common.py b/yt_dlp/postprocessor/common.py
index be2bb33f6..f0a71c1ff 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/postprocessor/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/postprocessor/common.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     _configuration_args,
     deprecation_warning,
 )
+from ..utils._utils import _ProgressState
 
 
 class PostProcessorMetaClass(type):
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ def report_progress(self, s):
 
         self._downloader.to_console_title(self._downloader.evaluate_outtmpl(
             progress_template.get('postprocess-title') or 'yt-dlp %(progress._default_template)s',
-            progress_dict))
+            progress_dict), _ProgressState.from_dict(s), s.get('_percent'))
 
     def _retry_download(self, err, count, retries):
         # While this is not an extractor, it behaves similar to one and
diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
index a71a381e5..4093c238c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import datetime as dt
 import email.header
 import email.utils
+import enum
 import errno
 import functools
 import hashlib
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@
     compat_HTMLParseError,
 )
 from ..dependencies import xattr
+from ..globals import IN_CLI
 
 __name__ = __name__.rsplit('.', 1)[0]  # noqa: A001: Pretend to be the parent module
 
@@ -1486,8 +1488,7 @@ def write_string(s, out=None, encoding=None):
 
 # TODO: Use global logger
 def deprecation_warning(msg, *, printer=None, stacklevel=0, **kwargs):
-    from .. import _IN_CLI
-    if _IN_CLI:
+    if IN_CLI.value:
         if msg in deprecation_warning._cache:
             return
         deprecation_warning._cache.add(msg)
@@ -4890,10 +4891,6 @@ class Config:
     filename = None
     __initialized = False
 
-    # Internal only, do not use! Hack to enable --plugin-dirs
-    # TODO(coletdjnz): remove when plugin globals system is implemented
-    _plugin_dirs = None
-
     def __init__(self, parser, label=None):
         self.parser, self.label = parser, label
         self._loaded_paths, self.configs = set(), []
@@ -5631,6 +5628,24 @@ def filesize_from_tbr(tbr, duration):
     return int(duration * tbr * (1000 / 8))
 
 
+def _request_dump_filename(url, video_id, data=None, trim_length=None):
+    if data is not None:
+        data = hashlib.md5(data).hexdigest()
+    basen = join_nonempty(video_id, data, url, delim='_')
+    trim_length = trim_length or 240
+    if len(basen) > trim_length:
+        h = '___' + hashlib.md5(basen.encode()).hexdigest()
+        basen = basen[:trim_length - len(h)] + h
+    filename = sanitize_filename(f'{basen}.dump', restricted=True)
+    # Working around MAX_PATH limitation on Windows (see
+    # http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx)
+    if os.name == 'nt':
+        absfilepath = os.path.abspath(filename)
+        if len(absfilepath) > 259:
+            filename = fR'\\?\{absfilepath}'
+    return filename
+
+
 # XXX: Temporary
 class _YDLLogger:
     def __init__(self, ydl=None):
@@ -5659,3 +5674,32 @@ def stdout(self, message):
     def stderr(self, message):
         if self._ydl:
             self._ydl.to_stderr(message)
+
+
+class _ProgressState(enum.Enum):
+    """
+    Represents a state for a progress bar.
+
+    See: https://conemu.github.io/en/AnsiEscapeCodes.html#ConEmu_specific_OSC
+    """
+
+    HIDDEN = 0
+    INDETERMINATE = 3
+    VISIBLE = 1
+    WARNING = 4
+    ERROR = 2
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, s, /):
+        if s['status'] == 'finished':
+            return cls.INDETERMINATE
+
+        # Not currently used
+        if s['status'] == 'error':
+            return cls.ERROR
+
+        return cls.INDETERMINATE if s.get('_percent') is None else cls.VISIBLE
+
+    def get_ansi_escape(self, /, percent=None):
+        percent = 0 if percent is None else int(percent)
+        return f'\033]9;4;{self.value};{percent}\007'
diff --git a/yt_dlp/version.py b/yt_dlp/version.py
index 4f7a2ec90..7346ca49c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/version.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/version.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # Autogenerated by devscripts/update-version.py
 
-__version__ = '2025.01.26'
+__version__ = '2025.02.19'
 
-RELEASE_GIT_HEAD = '3b4531934465580be22937fecbb6e1a3a9e2334f'
+RELEASE_GIT_HEAD = '4985a4041770eaa0016271809a1fd950dc809a55'
 
 VARIANT = None
 
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@
 
 ORIGIN = 'yt-dlp/yt-dlp'
 
-_pkg_version = '2025.01.26'
+_pkg_version = '2025.02.19'