diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/ard.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/ard.py
index fd45b3e42b..13a06396d9 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/ard.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/ard.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from ..utils import (
     parse_duration,
     unified_strdate,
     xpath_text,
+    update_url_query,
 )
 from ..compat import compat_etree_fromstring
 
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ class ARDMediathekIE(InfoExtractor):
             # m3u8 download
             'skip_download': True,
         },
+        'skip': 'HTTP Error 404: Not Found',
     }, {
         'url': 'http://www.ardmediathek.de/tv/Tatort/Tatort-Scheinwelten-H%C3%B6rfassung-Video/Das-Erste/Video?documentId=29522730&bcastId=602916',
         'md5': 'f4d98b10759ac06c0072bbcd1f0b9e3e',
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ class ARDMediathekIE(InfoExtractor):
             'description': 'md5:196392e79876d0ac94c94e8cdb2875f1',
             'duration': 5252,
         },
+        'skip': 'HTTP Error 404: Not Found',
     }, {
         # audio
         'url': 'http://www.ardmediathek.de/tv/WDR-H%C3%B6rspiel-Speicher/Tod-eines-Fu%C3%9Fballers/WDR-3/Audio-Podcast?documentId=28488308&bcastId=23074086',
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ class ARDMediathekIE(InfoExtractor):
             'description': 'md5:f6e39f3461f0e1f54bfa48c8875c86ef',
             'duration': 3240,
         },
+        'skip': 'HTTP Error 404: Not Found',
     }, {
         'url': 'http://mediathek.daserste.de/sendungen_a-z/328454_anne-will/22429276_vertrauen-ist-gut-spionieren-ist-besser-geht',
         'only_matching': True,
@@ -113,11 +117,14 @@ class ARDMediathekIE(InfoExtractor):
                         continue
                     if ext == 'f4m':
                         formats.extend(self._extract_f4m_formats(
-                            stream_url + '?hdcore=3.1.1&plugin=aasp-3.1.1.69.124',
-                            video_id, preference=-1, f4m_id='hds', fatal=False))
+                            update_url_query(stream_url, {
+                                'hdcore': '3.1.1',
+                                'plugin': 'aasp-3.1.1.69.124'
+                            }),
+                            video_id, f4m_id='hds', fatal=False))
                     elif ext == 'm3u8':
                         formats.extend(self._extract_m3u8_formats(
-                            stream_url, video_id, 'mp4', preference=1, m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False))
+                            stream_url, video_id, 'mp4', m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False))
                     else:
                         if server and server.startswith('rtmp'):
                             f = {
@@ -231,7 +238,8 @@ class ARDIE(InfoExtractor):
             'title': 'Die Story im Ersten: Mission unter falscher Flagge',
             'upload_date': '20140804',
             'thumbnail': 're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
-        }
+        },
+        'skip': 'HTTP Error 404: Not Found',
     }
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):