(I post this in order to provide an answer.)I have posted under this askubuntu question an answer on how to use Captvty with Wine, and it is a rather complex procedure.I wander if Playonlinux can make things easier.
How to install Captvty in Playonlinux
playonlinux
I will try to update this over time. Tested in Mint 18.1 and Solus OS.In Playonlinux:Configure: New, select 32bit version, name it without spaces (e.g.Captvty)Selecting the new drive, go to Miscellaneous tab and select 'Open virtual's drive directory', and copy the Captvty program folder (downloaded and un-packed, as it is a portable program) into the folder ~/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/Captvty/drive_c/Program Files.Again selecting the drive, go to the tab Install new components and install one by one: vcrun2010, dotnet40, gdiplus, Internet Explorer 8 Under the General tab, select to make a new shortcut, then select the Captvty.exe file and give it a name.At this point, downloading a video should work; in order to play directly the video, the Flash player is needed: download the Windows 7, Internet Explorer version from here, then:Install it in Playonlinux - Configure, select the Captvty drive, Miscellaneous tab, then 'Run a .exe in this virtual drive'.Selecting Configure - General tab, the Wine version can be changed. I have tested with 1.7 and 1.9.There seem to be some limitations as to the arte-tv videos (on alternative methods to get the arte-tv videos, here); some Captvty versions do not list them at all, the latest one tested (2.5.8.1) can list and download them but cannot play them with the Flashplayer.The above answer is based on ideas from here and here.