diff --git a/lib/hls/hls_classes.js b/lib/hls/hls_classes.js
index d6f5d3d5dd..8d003ba951 100644
--- a/lib/hls/hls_classes.js
+++ b/lib/hls/hls_classes.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ goog.provide('shaka.hls.Segment');
 goog.provide('shaka.hls.Tag');
 
 goog.require('goog.asserts');
-goog.require('shaka.hls.Utils');
 goog.require('shaka.util.Error');
 
 
@@ -203,48 +202,20 @@ shaka.hls.Segment = class {
   /**
    * Creates an HLS segment object.
    *
-   * @param {string} absoluteMediaPlaylistUri An absolute Media Playlist URI.
    * @param {string} verbatimSegmentUri verbatim segment URI.
    * @param {!Array.<shaka.hls.Tag>} tags
    * @param {!Array.<shaka.hls.Tag>=} partialSegments
    */
-  constructor(absoluteMediaPlaylistUri, verbatimSegmentUri, tags,
-      partialSegments=[]) {
+  constructor(verbatimSegmentUri, tags, partialSegments=[]) {
     /** @const {!Array.<shaka.hls.Tag>} */
     this.tags = tags;
 
-    /** @type {?string} */
-    this.absoluteUri_ = null;
-
-    /** @type {?string} */
-    this.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri_ = absoluteMediaPlaylistUri;
-
-    /** @type {?string} */
-    this.verbatimSegmentUri_ = verbatimSegmentUri;
+    /** @const {?string} */
+    this.verbatimSegmentUri = verbatimSegmentUri;
 
     /** @type {!Array.<shaka.hls.Tag>} */
     this.partialSegments = partialSegments;
   }
-
-  /**
-   * Returns an absolute URI.
-   *
-   * @return {string}
-   */
-  get absoluteUri() {
-    if (!this.absoluteUri_ &&
-        this.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri_ && this.verbatimSegmentUri_) {
-      goog.asserts.assert(this.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri_,
-          'An absolute Media Playlist URI should be defined!');
-      goog.asserts.assert(this.verbatimSegmentUri_,
-          'An verbatim segment URI should be defined!');
-      this.absoluteUri_ = shaka.hls.Utils.constructAbsoluteUri(
-          this.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri_, this.verbatimSegmentUri_);
-      this.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri_ = null;
-      this.verbatimSegmentUri_ = null;
-    }
-    return this.absoluteUri_ || '';
-  }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/lib/hls/hls_parser.js b/lib/hls/hls_parser.js
index 1b61a20a45..745c21bd49 100644
--- a/lib/hls/hls_parser.js
+++ b/lib/hls/hls_parser.js
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     this.playerInterface_ = playerInterface;
     this.lowLatencyMode_ = playerInterface.isLowLatencyMode();
 
-    const response = await this.requestManifest_(uri);
+    const response = await this.requestManifest_([uri]);
 
     // Record the master playlist URI after redirects.
     this.masterPlaylistUri_ = response.uri;
@@ -346,32 +346,35 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
    * @private
    */
   async updateStream_(streamInfo) {
-    const manifestUri = streamInfo.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri;
-    const uriObj = new goog.Uri(manifestUri);
-    const queryData = new goog.Uri.QueryData();
-    if (streamInfo.canBlockReload) {
-      if (streamInfo.nextMediaSequence >= 0) {
-        // Indicates that the server must hold the request until a Playlist
-        // contains a Media Segment with Media Sequence
-        queryData.add('_HLS_msn', String(streamInfo.nextMediaSequence));
+    const manifestUris = [];
+    for (const uri of streamInfo.absoluteMediaPlaylistUris) {
+      const uriObj = new goog.Uri(uri);
+      const queryData = uriObj.getQueryData();
+      if (streamInfo.canBlockReload) {
+        if (streamInfo.nextMediaSequence >= 0) {
+          // Indicates that the server must hold the request until a Playlist
+          // contains a Media Segment with Media Sequence
+          queryData.add('_HLS_msn', String(streamInfo.nextMediaSequence));
+        }
+        if (streamInfo.nextPart >= 0) {
+          // Indicates, in combination with _HLS_msn, that the server must hold
+          // the request until a Playlist contains Partial Segment N of Media
+          // Sequence Number M or later.
+          queryData.add('_HLS_part', String(streamInfo.nextPart));
+        }
       }
-      if (streamInfo.nextPart >= 0) {
-        // Indicates, in combination with _HLS_msn, that the server must hold
-        // the request until a Playlist contains Partial Segment N of Media
-        // Sequence Number M or later.
-        queryData.add('_HLS_part', String(streamInfo.nextPart));
+      if (streamInfo.canSkipSegments) {
+        // Enable delta updates. This will replace older segments with
+        // 'EXT-X-SKIP' tag in the media playlist.
+        queryData.add('_HLS_skip', 'YES');
       }
-    }
-    if (streamInfo.canSkipSegments) {
-      // Enable delta updates. This will replace older segments with
-      // 'EXT-X-SKIP' tag in the media playlist.
-      queryData.add('_HLS_skip', 'YES');
-    }
-    if (queryData.getCount()) {
-      uriObj.setQueryData(queryData);
+      if (queryData.getCount()) {
+        uriObj.setQueryData(queryData);
+      }
+      manifestUris.push(uriObj.toString());
     }
     const response =
-        await this.requestManifest_(uriObj.toString(), /* isPlaylist= */ true);
+        await this.requestManifest_(manifestUris, /* isPlaylist= */ true);
     if (!streamInfo.stream.segmentIndex) {
       // The stream was closed since the update was first requested.
       return;
@@ -410,8 +413,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     }
 
     const {segments, bandwidth} = this.createSegments_(
-        streamInfo.verbatimMediaPlaylistUri, playlist, stream.type,
-        stream.mimeType, mediaSequenceToStartTime, mediaVariables);
+        playlist, stream, mediaSequenceToStartTime, mediaVariables);
 
     stream.bandwidth = bandwidth;
 
@@ -655,8 +657,6 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     /** @type {!Array.<!shaka.hls.Tag>} */
     const variablesTags = Utils.filterTagsByName(playlist.tags, 'EXT-X-DEFINE');
 
-    this.parseMasterVariables_(variablesTags);
-
     /** @type {!Array.<!shaka.extern.Variant>} */
     let variants = [];
     /** @type {!Array.<!shaka.extern.Stream>} */
@@ -715,6 +715,8 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
         decodingInfos: [],
       });
     } else {
+      this.parseMasterVariables_(variablesTags);
+
       /** @type {!Array.<!shaka.hls.Tag>} */
       const mediaTags = Utils.filterTagsByName(playlist.tags, 'EXT-X-MEDIA');
       /** @type {!Array.<!shaka.hls.Tag>} */
@@ -739,8 +741,8 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
         const value = tag.getAttributeValue('VALUE');
         const data = (new Map()).set('id', id);
         if (uri) {
-          data.set('uri', shaka.hls.Utils.constructAbsoluteUri(
-              this.masterPlaylistUri_, uri));
+          data.set('uri', shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+              [this.masterPlaylistUri_], uri, this.globalVariables_)[0]);
         }
         if (language) {
           data.set('language', language);
@@ -838,7 +840,10 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       return defaultBasicInfo;
     }
     const firstSegment = playlist.segments[0];
-    const parsedUri = new goog.Uri(firstSegment.absoluteUri);
+    const firstSegmentUri = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+        [playlist.absoluteUri],
+        playlist.segments[0].verbatimSegmentUri)[0];
+    const parsedUri = new goog.Uri(firstSegmentUri);
     const extension = parsedUri.getPath().split('.').pop();
     const rawMimeType = HlsParser.RAW_FORMATS_TO_MIME_TYPES_[extension];
     if (rawMimeType) {
@@ -854,9 +859,9 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       };
     }
 
-    let segmentUris = [firstSegment.absoluteUri];
+    let segmentUris = [firstSegmentUri];
     const initSegmentRef = this.getInitSegmentReference_(
-        playlist, firstSegment.tags, new Map());
+        playlist, firstSegment.tags);
     if (initSegmentRef) {
       segmentUris = initSegmentRef.getUris();
     }
@@ -1826,8 +1831,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       codecs = this.groupIdToCodecsMap_.get(groupId);
     }
 
-    const verbatimMediaPlaylistUri = this.variableSubstitution_(
-        tag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI'), this.globalVariables_);
+    const verbatimMediaPlaylistUri = tag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI');
 
     // Check if the stream has already been created as part of another Variant
     // and return it if it has.
@@ -1888,8 +1892,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     /** @type {string} */
     const type = shaka.util.ManifestParserUtils.ContentType.IMAGE;
 
-    const verbatimImagePlaylistUri = this.variableSubstitution_(
-        tag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI'), this.globalVariables_);
+    const verbatimImagePlaylistUri = tag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI');
     const codecs = tag.getAttributeValue('CODECS', 'jpeg') || '';
 
     // Check if the stream has already been created as part of another Variant
@@ -1958,8 +1961,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
   createStreamInfoFromVariantTag_(tag, allCodecs, type) {
     goog.asserts.assert(tag.name == 'EXT-X-STREAM-INF',
         'Should only be called on variant tags!');
-    const verbatimMediaPlaylistUri = this.variableSubstitution_(
-        tag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI'), this.globalVariables_);
+    const verbatimMediaPlaylistUri = tag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI');
 
     if (this.uriToStreamInfosMap_.has(verbatimMediaPlaylistUri)) {
       return this.uriToStreamInfosMap_.get(verbatimMediaPlaylistUri);
@@ -2003,8 +2005,9 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       primary, name, channelsCount, closedCaptions, characteristics, forced,
       sampleRate, spatialAudio) {
     // TODO: Refactor, too many parameters
-    const initialMediaPlaylistUri = shaka.hls.Utils.constructAbsoluteUri(
-        this.masterPlaylistUri_, verbatimMediaPlaylistUri);
+    const initialMediaPlaylistUris = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+        [this.masterPlaylistUri_], verbatimMediaPlaylistUri,
+        this.globalVariables_);
 
     // This stream is lazy-loaded inside the createSegmentIndex function.
     // So we start out with a stream object that does not contain the actual
@@ -2017,7 +2020,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       type,
       verbatimMediaPlaylistUri,
       // These values are filled out or updated after lazy-loading:
-      absoluteMediaPlaylistUri: initialMediaPlaylistUri,
+      absoluteMediaPlaylistUris: initialMediaPlaylistUris,
       minTimestamp: 0,
       maxTimestamp: 0,
       mediaSequenceToStartTime: new Map(),
@@ -2034,7 +2037,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     const downloadSegmentIndex = async (abortSignal) => {
       // Download the actual manifest.
       const response = await this.requestManifest_(
-          streamInfo.absoluteMediaPlaylistUri, /* isPlaylist= */ true);
+          streamInfo.absoluteMediaPlaylistUris, /* isPlaylist= */ true);
       if (abortSignal.aborted) {
         return;
       }
@@ -2345,11 +2348,20 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
           shaka.util.Error.Code.HLS_KEYFORMATS_NOT_SUPPORTED);
     }
 
+    const stream = this.makeStreamObject_(codecs, type, languageValue, primary,
+        name, channelsCount, closedCaptions, characteristics, forced,
+        sampleRate, spatialAudio);
+    stream.encrypted = encrypted;
+    stream.drmInfos = drmInfos;
+    stream.keyIds = keyIds;
+    stream.mimeType = mimeType;
+
     const mediaSequenceToStartTime = this.isLive_() ?
         this.mediaSequenceToStartTimeByType_.get(type) : new Map();
+
     const {segments, bandwidth} = this.createSegments_(
-        verbatimMediaPlaylistUri, playlist, type, mimeType,
-        mediaSequenceToStartTime, mediaVariables);
+        playlist, stream, mediaSequenceToStartTime, mediaVariables);
+    stream.bandwidth = bandwidth;
 
     // This new calculation is necessary for Low Latency streams.
     if (this.isLive_()) {
@@ -2361,6 +2373,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     const lastEndTime = lastSegment.endTime;
     /** @type {!shaka.media.SegmentIndex} */
     const segmentIndex = new shaka.media.SegmentIndex(segments);
+    stream.segmentIndex = segmentIndex;
 
     const serverControlTag = shaka.hls.Utils.getFirstTagWithName(
         playlist.tags, 'EXT-X-SERVER-CONTROL');
@@ -2375,21 +2388,11 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     const {nextMediaSequence, nextPart} =
         this.getNextMediaSequenceAndPart_(mediaSequenceNumber, segments);
 
-    const stream = this.makeStreamObject_(codecs, type, languageValue, primary,
-        name, channelsCount, closedCaptions, characteristics, forced,
-        sampleRate, spatialAudio);
-    stream.segmentIndex = segmentIndex;
-    stream.encrypted = encrypted;
-    stream.drmInfos = drmInfos;
-    stream.keyIds = keyIds;
-    stream.mimeType = mimeType;
-    stream.bandwidth = bandwidth;
-
     return {
       stream,
       type,
       verbatimMediaPlaylistUri,
-      absoluteMediaPlaylistUri,
+      absoluteMediaPlaylistUris: [absoluteMediaPlaylistUri],
       minTimestamp: firstStartTime,
       maxTimestamp: lastEndTime,
       canSkipSegments,
@@ -2595,10 +2598,11 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
   /**
    * @param {!shaka.hls.Tag} drmTag
    * @param {!shaka.hls.Playlist} playlist
+   * @param {?Map.<string, string>=} variables
    * @return {!shaka.extern.HlsAes128Key}
    * @private
    */
-  parseAES128DrmTag_(drmTag, playlist) {
+  parseAES128DrmTag_(drmTag, playlist, variables) {
     // Check if the Web Crypto API is available.
     if (!window.crypto || !window.crypto.subtle) {
       shaka.log.alwaysWarn('Web Crypto API is not available to decrypt ' +
@@ -2633,8 +2637,8 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       }
     }
 
-    const keyUri = shaka.hls.Utils.constructAbsoluteUri(
-        playlist.absoluteUri, drmTag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI'));
+    const keyUri = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+        [playlist.absoluteUri], drmTag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI'), variables);
 
     const requestType = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.RequestType.KEY;
     const request = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.makeRequest(
@@ -2821,7 +2825,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
    * Get the InitSegmentReference for a segment if it has a EXT-X-MAP tag.
    * @param {!shaka.hls.Playlist} playlist
    * @param {!Array.<!shaka.hls.Tag>} tags Segment tags
-   * @param {!Map.<string, string>} variables
+   * @param {?Map.<string, string>=} variables
    * @return {shaka.media.InitSegmentReference}
    * @private
    */
@@ -2834,13 +2838,11 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     }
     // Map tag example: #EXT-X-MAP:URI="main.mp4",BYTERANGE="720@0"
     const verbatimInitSegmentUri = mapTag.getRequiredAttrValue('URI');
-    const absoluteInitSegmentUri = this.variableSubstitution_(
-        shaka.hls.Utils.constructAbsoluteUri(
-            playlist.absoluteUri, verbatimInitSegmentUri),
-        variables);
+    const absoluteInitSegmentUris = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+        [playlist.absoluteUri], verbatimInitSegmentUri, variables);
 
     const mapTagKey = [
-      absoluteInitSegmentUri,
+      absoluteInitSegmentUris.toString(),
       mapTag.getAttributeValue('BYTERANGE', ''),
     ].join('-');
     if (!this.mapTagToInitSegmentRefMap_.has(mapTagKey)) {
@@ -2851,14 +2853,14 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
         if (tag.name == 'EXT-X-KEY') {
           if (tag.getRequiredAttrValue('METHOD') == 'AES-128' &&
               tag.id < mapTag.id) {
-            aes128Key = this.parseAES128DrmTag_(tag, playlist);
+            aes128Key = this.parseAES128DrmTag_(tag, playlist, variables);
           }
         } else if (tag.name == 'EXT-X-BYTERANGE' && tag.id < mapTag.id) {
           byteRangeTag = tag;
         }
       }
       const initSegmentRef = this.createInitSegmentReference_(
-          absoluteInitSegmentUri, mapTag, byteRangeTag, aes128Key);
+          absoluteInitSegmentUris, mapTag, byteRangeTag, aes128Key);
       this.mapTagToInitSegmentRefMap_.set(mapTagKey, initSegmentRef);
     }
     return this.mapTagToInitSegmentRefMap_.get(mapTagKey);
@@ -2867,14 +2869,14 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
   /**
    * Create an InitSegmentReference object for the EXT-X-MAP tag in the media
    * playlist.
-   * @param {string} absoluteInitSegmentUri
+   * @param {!Array.<string>} absoluteInitSegmentUris
    * @param {!shaka.hls.Tag} mapTag EXT-X-MAP
    * @param {shaka.hls.Tag=} byteRangeTag EXT-X-BYTERANGE
    * @param {shaka.extern.HlsAes128Key=} aes128Key
    * @return {!shaka.media.InitSegmentReference}
    * @private
    */
-  createInitSegmentReference_(absoluteInitSegmentUri, mapTag, byteRangeTag,
+  createInitSegmentReference_(absoluteInitSegmentUris, mapTag, byteRangeTag,
       aes128Key) {
     let startByte = 0;
     let endByte = null;
@@ -2902,7 +2904,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     }
 
     const initSegmentRef = new shaka.media.InitSegmentReference(
-        () => [absoluteInitSegmentUri],
+        () => absoluteInitSegmentUris,
         startByte,
         endByte,
         /* mediaQuality= */ null,
@@ -2920,16 +2922,15 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
    * @param {!shaka.hls.Segment} hlsSegment
    * @param {number} startTime
    * @param {!Map.<string, string>} variables
-   * @param {string} absoluteMediaPlaylistUri
-   * @param {string} type
-   * @param {string} mimeType
+   * @param {!shaka.hls.Playlist} playlist
+   * @param {shaka.extern.Stream} stream
    * @param {shaka.extern.HlsAes128Key=} hlsAes128Key
    * @return {shaka.media.SegmentReference}
    * @private
    */
   createSegmentReference_(
       initSegmentReference, previousReference, hlsSegment, startTime,
-      variables, absoluteMediaPlaylistUri, type, mimeType, hlsAes128Key) {
+      variables, playlist, stream, hlsAes128Key) {
     const tags = hlsSegment.tags;
     const extinfTag =
         shaka.hls.Utils.getFirstTagWithName(tags, 'EXTINF');
@@ -2986,8 +2987,8 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     let isPreloadSegment = false;
 
     if (this.lowLatencyMode_ && hlsSegment.partialSegments.length) {
-      const byterangeOptimizationSupport = (mimeType == 'video/mp4' ||
-          mimeType == 'audio/mp4') && window.ReadableStream;
+      const byterangeOptimizationSupport = (stream.mimeType == 'video/mp4' ||
+          stream.mimeType == 'audio/mp4') && window.ReadableStream;
 
       let partialSyncTime = syncTime;
       for (let i = 0; i < hlsSegment.partialSegments.length; i++) {
@@ -3043,14 +3044,14 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
           somePartialSegmentWithGap = true;
         }
 
-        let pAbsoluteUri = null;
+        let uris = null;
         const getPartialUris = () => {
-          if (pAbsoluteUri == null) {
+          if (uris == null) {
             goog.asserts.assert(pUri, 'Partial uri should be defined!');
-            pAbsoluteUri = shaka.hls.Utils.constructAbsoluteUri(
-                absoluteMediaPlaylistUri, pUri);
+            uris = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+                [playlist.absoluteUri], pUri, variables);
           }
-          return [pAbsoluteUri];
+          return uris;
         };
 
         if (byterangeOptimizationSupport &&
@@ -3145,7 +3146,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
 
     let tilesLayout = '';
     let tileDuration = null;
-    if (type == shaka.util.ManifestParserUtils.ContentType.IMAGE) {
+    if (stream.type == shaka.util.ManifestParserUtils.ContentType.IMAGE) {
       // By default in HLS the tilesLayout is 1x1
       tilesLayout = '1x1';
       const tilesTag =
@@ -3159,16 +3160,16 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       }
     }
 
-    let absoluteSegmentUri = null;
+    let uris = null;
     const getUris = () => {
       if (getUrisOptimization) {
         return getUrisOptimization();
       }
-      if (absoluteSegmentUri == null) {
-        absoluteSegmentUri = this.variableSubstitution_(
-            hlsSegment.absoluteUri, variables);
+      if (uris == null) {
+        uris = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris([playlist.absoluteUri],
+            hlsSegment.verbatimSegmentUri, variables);
       }
-      return absoluteSegmentUri.length ? [absoluteSegmentUri] : [];
+      return uris || [];
     };
 
     const reference = new shaka.media.SegmentReference(
@@ -3234,18 +3235,15 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
    * get the bandwidth necessary for this segments If it's defined in the
    * playlist.
    *
-   * @param {string} verbatimMediaPlaylistUri
    * @param {!shaka.hls.Playlist} playlist
-   * @param {string} type
-   * @param {string} mimeType
+   * @param {shaka.extern.Stream} stream
    * @param {!Map.<number, number>} mediaSequenceToStartTime
    * @param {!Map.<string, string>} variables
    * @return {{segments: !Array.<!shaka.media.SegmentReference>,
    *          bandwidth: (number|undefined)}}
    * @private
    */
-  createSegments_(verbatimMediaPlaylistUri, playlist, type, mimeType,
-      mediaSequenceToStartTime, variables) {
+  createSegments_(playlist, stream, mediaSequenceToStartTime, variables) {
     /** @type {Array.<!shaka.hls.Segment>} */
     const hlsSegments = playlist.segments;
     goog.asserts.assert(hlsSegments.length, 'Playlist should have segments!');
@@ -3297,7 +3295,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       for (const drmTag of item.tags) {
         if (drmTag.name == 'EXT-X-KEY') {
           if (drmTag.getRequiredAttrValue('METHOD') == 'AES-128') {
-            hlsAes128Key = this.parseAES128DrmTag_(drmTag, playlist);
+            hlsAes128Key = this.parseAES128DrmTag_(drmTag, playlist, variables);
           } else {
             hlsAes128Key = undefined;
           }
@@ -3327,9 +3325,8 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
           item,
           startTime,
           variables,
-          playlist.absoluteUri,
-          type,
-          mimeType,
+          playlist,
+          stream,
           hlsAes128Key);
 
       if (reference) {
@@ -3463,42 +3460,6 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     };
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Replaces the variables of a given URI.
-   *
-   * @param {string} uri
-   * @param {!Map.<string, string>} variables
-   * @return {string}
-   * @private
-   */
-  variableSubstitution_(uri, variables) {
-    if (!variables.size) {
-      return uri;
-    }
-    let newUri = String(uri).replace(/%7B/g, '{').replace(/%7D/g, '}');
-
-    const uriVariables = newUri.match(/{\$\w*}/g);
-    if (uriVariables) {
-      for (const variable of uriVariables) {
-        // Note: All variables have the structure {$...}
-        const variableName = variable.slice(2, variable.length - 1);
-        const replaceValue = variables.get(variableName);
-        if (replaceValue) {
-          newUri = newUri.replace(variable, replaceValue);
-        } else {
-          shaka.log.error('A variable has been found that is not declared',
-              variableName);
-          throw new shaka.util.Error(
-              shaka.util.Error.Severity.CRITICAL,
-              shaka.util.Error.Category.MANIFEST,
-              shaka.util.Error.Code.HLS_VARIABLE_NOT_FOUND,
-              variableName);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    return newUri;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Attempts to guess stream's mime type based on content type and URI.
    *
@@ -3577,10 +3538,13 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     goog.asserts.assert(playlist.segments.length,
         'Playlist should have segments!');
     const middleSegmentIdx = Math.trunc((playlist.segments.length - 1) / 2);
-    const middleSegmentUri = this.variableSubstitution_(
-        playlist.segments[middleSegmentIdx].absoluteUri, variables);
 
-    const parsedUri = new goog.Uri(middleSegmentUri);
+    const middleSegmentUris = shaka.hls.Utils.constructUris(
+        [playlist.absoluteUri],
+        playlist.segments[middleSegmentIdx].verbatimSegmentUri,
+        variables);
+
+    const parsedUri = new goog.Uri(middleSegmentUris[0]);
     const extension = parsedUri.getPath().split('.').pop();
     const map = HlsParser.EXTENSION_MAP_BY_CONTENT_TYPE_[contentType];
 
@@ -3603,7 +3567,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
     // If unable to guess mime type, request a segment and try getting it
     // from the response.
     const headRequest = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.makeRequest(
-        [middleSegmentUri], this.config_.retryParameters);
+        middleSegmentUris, this.config_.retryParameters);
     headRequest.method = 'HEAD';
     const type = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.AdvancedRequestType.MEDIA_SEGMENT;
     const response = await this.makeNetworkRequest_(
@@ -3660,16 +3624,16 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
    * Makes a network request for the manifest and returns a Promise
    * with the resulting data.
    *
-   * @param {string} absoluteUri
+   * @param {!Array.<string>} uris
    * @param {boolean=} isPlaylist
    * @return {!Promise.<!shaka.extern.Response>}
    * @private
    */
-  requestManifest_(absoluteUri, isPlaylist) {
+  requestManifest_(uris, isPlaylist) {
     const requestType = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.RequestType.MANIFEST;
 
     const request = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.makeRequest(
-        [absoluteUri], this.config_.retryParameters);
+        uris, this.config_.retryParameters);
 
     const type = isPlaylist ?
         shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.AdvancedRequestType.MEDIA_PLAYLIST :
@@ -3941,7 +3905,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
  *   stream: !shaka.extern.Stream,
  *   type: string,
  *   verbatimMediaPlaylistUri: string,
- *   absoluteMediaPlaylistUri: string,
+ *   absoluteMediaPlaylistUris: !Array.<string>,
  *   minTimestamp: number,
  *   maxTimestamp: number,
  *   mediaSequenceToStartTime: !Map.<number, number>,
@@ -3966,8 +3930,8 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
  *   This has not been canonicalized into an absolute URI.  This gives us a
  *   consistent key for this playlist, even if redirects cause us to update
  *   from different origins each time.
- * @property {string} absoluteMediaPlaylistUri
- *   The absolute media playlist URI, resolved relative to the master playlist
+ * @property {!Array.<string>} absoluteMediaPlaylistUris
+ *   The absolute media playlist URIs, resolved relative to the master playlist
  *   and updated to reflect any redirects.
  * @property {number} minTimestamp
  *   The minimum timestamp found in the stream.
diff --git a/lib/hls/hls_utils.js b/lib/hls/hls_utils.js
index 374519baef..b73d6e6918 100644
--- a/lib/hls/hls_utils.js
+++ b/lib/hls/hls_utils.js
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 
 goog.provide('shaka.hls.Utils');
 
+goog.require('shaka.log');
+goog.require('shaka.util.Error');
 goog.require('shaka.util.ManifestParserUtils');
 goog.requireType('shaka.hls.Tag');
 
@@ -70,15 +72,59 @@ shaka.hls.Utils = class {
 
 
   /**
-   * @param {string} parentAbsoluteUri
+   * @param {!Array.<string>} baseUris
+   * @param {?string} relativeUri
+   * @param {?Map.<string, string>=} variables
+   * @return {!Array.<string>}
+   */
+  static constructUris(baseUris, relativeUri, variables) {
+    if (!relativeUri) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    const resolvedUris = shaka.util.ManifestParserUtils.resolveUris(
+        baseUris, [relativeUri]);
+
+    const uris = [];
+    for (const uri of resolvedUris) {
+      uris.push(shaka.hls.Utils.variableSubstitution(uri, variables));
+    }
+
+    return uris;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Replaces the variables of a given URI.
+   *
    * @param {string} uri
+   * @param {?Map.<string, string>=} variables
    * @return {string}
    */
-  static constructAbsoluteUri(parentAbsoluteUri, uri) {
-    const uris = shaka.util.ManifestParserUtils.resolveUris(
-        [parentAbsoluteUri], [uri]);
+  static variableSubstitution(uri, variables) {
+    if (!variables || !variables.size) {
+      return uri;
+    }
+    let newUri = String(uri).replace(/%7B/g, '{').replace(/%7D/g, '}');
 
-    return uris[0];
+    const uriVariables = newUri.match(/{\$\w*}/g);
+    if (uriVariables) {
+      for (const variable of uriVariables) {
+        // Note: All variables have the structure {$...}
+        const variableName = variable.slice(2, variable.length - 1);
+        const replaceValue = variables.get(variableName);
+        if (replaceValue) {
+          newUri = newUri.replace(variable, replaceValue);
+        } else {
+          shaka.log.error('A variable has been found that is not declared',
+              variableName);
+          throw new shaka.util.Error(
+              shaka.util.Error.Severity.CRITICAL,
+              shaka.util.Error.Category.MANIFEST,
+              shaka.util.Error.Code.HLS_VARIABLE_NOT_FOUND,
+              variableName);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return newUri;
   }
 
 
diff --git a/lib/hls/manifest_text_parser.js b/lib/hls/manifest_text_parser.js
index c413c414cc..28085f23af 100644
--- a/lib/hls/manifest_text_parser.js
+++ b/lib/hls/manifest_text_parser.js
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ shaka.hls.ManifestTextParser = class {
           segmentTags.push(currentMapTag);
         }
         // The URI appears after all of the tags describing the segment.
-        const segment = new shaka.hls.Segment(absoluteMediaPlaylistUri,
+        const segment = new shaka.hls.Segment(
             verbatimSegmentUri, segmentTags, partialSegmentTags);
         segments.push(segment);
         segmentTags = [];
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ shaka.hls.ManifestTextParser = class {
       if (currentMapTag) {
         segmentTags.push(currentMapTag);
       }
-      const segment = new shaka.hls.Segment('', '', segmentTags,
+      const segment = new shaka.hls.Segment('', segmentTags,
           partialSegmentTags);
       segments.push(segment);
     }
diff --git a/test/hls/manifest_text_parser_unit.js b/test/hls/manifest_text_parser_unit.js
index 248ea2ad48..ddf10b07a8 100644
--- a/test/hls/manifest_text_parser_unit.js
+++ b/test/hls/manifest_text_parser_unit.js
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
               new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 0, 'EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE', [], '1'),
             ],
             segments: [
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'https://test/test.mp4',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/test.mp4',
                   [
                     new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 2, 'EXTINF', [], '5.99467'),
                   ]),
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
               new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 0, 'EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE', [], '1'),
             ],
             segments: [
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'https://test/test.mp4', [
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/test.mp4', [
                 new shaka.hls.Tag(
                     /* id= */ 2,
                     'EXTINF',
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
               new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 2, 'EXT-X-TARGETDURATION', [], '6'),
             ],
             segments: [
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'https://test/test.mp4',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/test.mp4',
                   [
                     new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 1, 'EXT-X-KEY',
                         [
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
               new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 0, 'EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE', [], '1'),
             ],
             segments: [
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'test.mp4',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('test.mp4',
                   [
                     new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 2, 'EXTINF', [], '5.99467'),
                   ]),
@@ -427,9 +427,9 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
               new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 0, 'EXT-X-TARGETDURATION', [], '6'),
             ],
             segments: [
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'uri',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('uri',
                   [new shaka.hls.Tag(2, 'EXTINF', [], '5')]),
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'uri2',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('uri2',
                   [new shaka.hls.Tag(3, 'EXTINF', [], '4')]),
             ],
           },
@@ -449,9 +449,9 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
               new shaka.hls.Tag(/* id= */ 4, 'EXT-X-ENDLIST', []),
             ],
             segments: [
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'uri',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('uri',
                   [new shaka.hls.Tag(2, 'EXTINF', [], '5')]),
-              new shaka.hls.Segment('https://test/manifest.m3u8', 'uri2',
+              new shaka.hls.Segment('uri2',
                   [new shaka.hls.Tag(3, 'EXTINF', [], '4')]),
             ],
           },
@@ -508,14 +508,12 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
             ],
             segments: [
               new shaka.hls.Segment(
-                  /* absoluteMediaPlaylistUri= */ 'https://test/manifest.m3u8',
                   /* verbatimSegmentUri= */ 'uri',
                   /* tags= */ [
                     new shaka.hls.Tag(3, 'EXTINF', [], '5'),
                     mapTag,
                   ]),
               new shaka.hls.Segment(
-                  /* absoluteMediaPlaylistUri= */ 'https://test/manifest.m3u8',
                   /* verbatimSegmentUri= */ 'uri2',
                   /* tags= */ [
                     new shaka.hls.Tag(6, 'EXTINF', [], '2'),
@@ -523,7 +521,6 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
                   ],
                   /* partialSegments= */ partialSegments1),
               new shaka.hls.Segment(
-                  /* absoluteMediaPlaylistUri= */ '',
                   /* verbatimSegmentUri= */ '',
                   /* tags= */ [mapTag],
                   /* partialSegments= */ partialSegments2),
@@ -577,14 +574,12 @@ describe('ManifestTextParser', () => {
             ],
             segments: [
               new shaka.hls.Segment(
-                  /* absoluteMediaPlaylistUri= */ 'https://test/manifest.m3u8',
                   /* verbatimSegmentUri= */ 'uri',
                   /* tags= */ [
                     new shaka.hls.Tag(3, 'EXTINF', [], '5'),
                     mapTag,
                   ]),
               new shaka.hls.Segment(
-                  /* absoluteMediaPlaylistUri= */ '',
                   /* verbatimSegmentUri= */ '',
                   /* tags= */ [preloadMapTag],
                   /* partialSegments= */ preloadSegment),