I wouldn't be surprised if MPEG-2 support was missing by default due to licensing/patent restrictions.
Please try this command: sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-addons and tell us if it improves the situation. ** Changed in: gstreamer1.0 (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete ** Changed in: totem (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to gstreamer1.0 in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1809044 Title: DVD playback error: unable to play . . . DVD source is required . . . Status in gstreamer1.0 package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Status in totem package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: Successful installation of libdvd-pkg and dpkg-reconfigure, afterwards, to complete compilation. Inserted known-good DVD and clicked on "Open in Videos" which launched the Totem player. Error msg: "Unable to play the file, DVD source is required, but is not installed." DVD will play normally in VLC player after installation on same machine. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.10 Package: libgstreamer1.0-0 1.14.4-1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.18.0-12.13-generic 4.18.17 Uname: Linux 4.18.0-12-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.20.10-0ubuntu13.1 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME Date: Tue Dec 18 15:21:45 2018 InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-11-13 (34 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.10 "Cosmic Cuttlefish" - Release amd64 (20181017.3) ProcEnviron: TERM=xterm-256color PATH=(custom, no user) XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: gstreamer1.0 UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) XorgLog: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/var/log/Xorg.0.log' To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gstreamer1.0/+bug/1809044/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp