diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py
index 1ad585e37..62b8b4a77 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/tvp.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ if not hasattr(InfoExtractor, '_match_valid_url'):
         RegexNotFoundError,
     )
 
+    def txt_or_none(v, default=None):
+        return default if v is None else (compat_str(v).strip() or default)
+
     BaseIE = InfoExtractor
 
     class InfoExtractor(BaseIE):