iPod Classic no longer syncs all video podcasts

My iPod Classic 30 GB used to play Onion News Network and TED videos, no problem. Now I get a message when I try to sync them that says 'Cannot be played on your iPod.' These are TED videos dating back to 2009, and similarly old Onion News Network video podcasts (2010), some of which were (previously) synched and played successfully. Apple admits some video podcasts cannot be played, but in my case they were PREVIOUSLY played.

Did they really change the firmware to make my iPod less useful?