diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/brightcove.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/brightcove.py
index ef560b5927..b49b1977db 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/brightcove.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/brightcove.py
@@ -585,6 +585,13 @@ def build_format_id(kind):
                         'format_id': build_format_id('rtmp'),
                     })
                 formats.append(f)
+
+        errors = json_data.get('errors')
+        if not formats and errors:
+            error = errors[0]
+            raise ExtractorError(
+                error.get('message') or error.get('error_subcode') or error['error_code'], expected=True)
+
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
         subtitles = {}