diff --git a/Docker/Dockerfile.app b/Docker/Dockerfile.app
index 1a7df53..573bfa2 100644
--- a/Docker/Dockerfile.app
+++ b/Docker/Dockerfile.app
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ FROM python:3.12-slim
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-# Install system dependencies for compiled Python packages
+# Install system dependencies for compiled Python packages and ffmpeg for HLS support
 RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
         gcc \
         g++ \
         libffi-dev \
+        ffmpeg \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 # Install Python dependencies (cached layer)
diff --git a/src/core/providers/enhanced_provider.py b/src/core/providers/enhanced_provider.py
index 03e1cee..9301b7e 100644
--- a/src/core/providers/enhanced_provider.py
+++ b/src/core/providers/enhanced_provider.py
@@ -567,6 +567,9 @@ class EnhancedAniWorldLoader(Loader):
                     "socket_timeout": self.download_timeout,
                     "http_chunk_size": 1024 * 1024,  # 1MB chunks
                     "logger": self.logger,
+                    # Use ffmpeg for HLS streams and transport stream format
+                    "downloader": "ffmpeg",
+                    "hls_use_mpegts": True,
                 }
                 if headers:
                     ydl_opts['http_headers'] = headers
diff --git a/src/server/fastapi_app.py b/src/server/fastapi_app.py
index 0fde2c5..8bc68f8 100644
--- a/src/server/fastapi_app.py
+++ b/src/server/fastapi_app.py
@@ -329,6 +329,19 @@ async def lifespan(_application: FastAPI):
         logger.info(
             "API documentation available at http://127.0.0.1:8000/api/docs"
         )
+
+        # Check for ffmpeg availability and warn if missing
+        try:
+            import shutil as _shutil
+            if _shutil.which("ffmpeg") is None:
+                logger.warning(
+                    "ffmpeg not found in PATH. HLS streams may fail to download. "
+                    "Install ffmpeg to enable HLS support."
+                )
+            else:
+                logger.debug("ffmpeg found at: %s", _shutil.which("ffmpeg"))
+        except Exception as _exc:
+            logger.warning("Could not check for ffmpeg: %s", _exc)
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error("Error during startup: %s", e, exc_info=True)
         startup_error = e
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_enhanced_provider.py b/tests/unit/test_enhanced_provider.py
index d7d34ce..0ff6ad0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_enhanced_provider.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_enhanced_provider.py
@@ -917,4 +917,47 @@ class TestAniworldLoaderCompat:
         """AniworldLoader should extend EnhancedAniWorldLoader."""
         from src.core.providers.enhanced_provider import AniworldLoader
 
-        assert issubclass(AniworldLoader, EnhancedAniWorldLoader)
\ No newline at end of file
+        assert issubclass(AniworldLoader, EnhancedAniWorldLoader)
+
+class TestFfmpegHlsOptions:
+    """Test that yt-dlp is configured with ffmpeg for HLS streams."""
+
+    def test_ytdl_opts_include_ffmpeg_for_hls(self, enhanced_loader, tmp_path):
+        """yt-dlp options should include ffmpeg downloader and hls-use-mpegts."""
+        temp_path = str(tmp_path / "temp.mp4")
+        output_path = str(tmp_path / "output.mp4")
+
+        captured_opts = {}
+
+        def capture_ytdl_download(ydl_opts, link):
+            captured_opts.update(ydl_opts)
+            with open(temp_path, "wb") as f:
+                f.write(b"fake-video-data")
+            return True
+
+        with patch(
+            "src.core.providers.enhanced_provider.recovery_strategies"
+        ) as mock_rs, patch(
+            "src.core.providers.enhanced_provider.file_corruption_detector"
+        ) as mock_fcd, patch(
+            "src.core.providers.enhanced_provider.get_integrity_manager"
+        ) as mock_im:
+            mock_rs.handle_network_failure.return_value = (
+                "https://direct.example.com/v.mp4",
+                [],
+            )
+            mock_rs.handle_download_failure.side_effect = capture_ytdl_download
+            mock_fcd.is_valid_video_file.return_value = True
+            mock_im.return_value.store_checksum.return_value = "abc123"
+
+            enhanced_loader._download_with_recovery(
+                1, 1, "test", "German Dub",
+                temp_path, output_path, None,
+            )
+
+        assert captured_opts.get("downloader") == "ffmpeg", (
+            f"Expected downloader='ffmpeg', got {captured_opts.get('downloader')}"
+        )
+        assert captured_opts.get("hls_use_mpegts") is True, (
+            f"Expected hls_use_mpegts=True, got {captured_opts.get('hls_use_mpegts')}"
+        )
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_ffmpeg_health_check.py b/tests/unit/test_ffmpeg_health_check.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6159448
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_ffmpeg_health_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""Unit tests for ffmpeg health check in fastapi_app.py."""
+
+import asyncio
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+
+class TestFfmpegHealthCheck:
+    """Test ffmpeg health check warns when not in PATH."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_ffmpeg_missing_warns(self):
+        """Should log warning when ffmpeg not found in PATH."""
+        with patch("shutil.which", return_value=None):
+            with patch("src.server.fastapi_app.setup_logging") as mock_log:
+                mock_logger = MagicMock()
+                mock_log.return_value = mock_logger
+
+                from src.server.fastapi_app import lifespan
+                app = MagicMock()
+
+                with pytest.raises(StopIteration):
+                    async with lifespan(app):
+                        pass
+
+                # Should have logged a warning about ffmpeg
+                warning_calls = [
+                    c for c in mock_logger.warning.call_args_list
+                    if "ffmpeg" in str(c)
+                ]
+                assert len(warning_calls) >= 1
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_ffmpeg_present_no_warning(self):
+        """Should not log warning when ffmpeg is found."""
+        with patch("shutil.which", return_value="/usr/bin/ffmpeg"):
+            with patch("src.server.fastapi_app.setup_logging") as mock_log:
+                mock_logger = MagicMock()
+                mock_log.return_value = mock_logger
+
+                from src.server.fastapi_app import lifespan
+                app = MagicMock()
+
+                with pytest.raises(StopIteration):
+                    async with lifespan(app):
+                        pass
+
+                # Should NOT have logged a warning about ffmpeg
+                warning_calls = [
+                    c for c in mock_logger.warning.call_args_list
+                    if "ffmpeg" in str(c)
+                ]
+                assert len(warning_calls) == 0
\ No newline at end of file