diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_container_page.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_container_page.py
index 60a726cc43..fddf3bf6e8 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_container_page.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_container_page.py
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ class ContainerPageTestCase(StudioPageTestCase, LibraryTestCase):
                 u'data-locator="{0}" data-course-key="{0.course_key}">'.format(self.child_container.location)
             ),
             expected_breadcrumbs=(
-                ur'<a href="/course/{course}{section_parameters}" class="{classes}">\s*Week 1\s*</a>\s*'
-                ur'<a href="/course/{course}{subsection_parameters}" class="{classes}">\s*Lesson 1\s*</a>\s*'
-                ur'<a href="/container/{unit}" class="{classes}">\s*Unit\s*</a>'
+                u'<a href="/course/{course}{section_parameters}" class="{classes}">\\s*Week 1\\s*</a>\\s*'
+                u'<a href="/course/{course}{subsection_parameters}" class="{classes}">\\s*Lesson 1\\s*</a>\\s*'
+                u'<a href="/container/{unit}" class="{classes}">\\s*Unit\\s*</a>'
             ).format(
                 course=re.escape(six.text_type(self.course.id)),
                 unit=re.escape(six.text_type(self.vertical.location)),
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ class ContainerPageTestCase(StudioPageTestCase, LibraryTestCase):
                     u'data-locator="{0}" data-course-key="{0.course_key}">'.format(draft_container.location)
                 ),
                 expected_breadcrumbs=(
-                    ur'<a href="/course/{course}{section_parameters}" class="{classes}">\s*Week 1\s*</a>\s*'
-                    ur'<a href="/course/{course}{subsection_parameters}" class="{classes}">\s*Lesson 1\s*</a>\s*'
-                    ur'<a href="/container/{unit}" class="{classes}">\s*Unit\s*</a>\s*'
-                    ur'<a href="/container/{split_test}" class="{classes}">\s*Split Test\s*</a>'
+                    u'<a href="/course/{course}{section_parameters}" class="{classes}">\\s*Week 1\\s*</a>\\s*'
+                    u'<a href="/course/{course}{subsection_parameters}" class="{classes}">\\s*Lesson 1\\s*</a>\\s*'
+                    u'<a href="/container/{unit}" class="{classes}">\\s*Unit\\s*</a>\\s*'
+                    u'<a href="/container/{split_test}" class="{classes}">\\s*Split Test\\s*</a>'
                 ).format(
                     course=re.escape(six.text_type(self.course.id)),
                     unit=re.escape(six.text_type(self.vertical.location)),
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py
index dfbf11ece7..97a03775e2 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import json
+import re
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 import ddt
@@ -255,8 +256,8 @@ class GetItemTest(ItemTest):
             html,
             # The instance of the wrapper class will have an auto-generated ID. Allow any
             # characters after wrapper.
-            ur'"/container/{}" class="action-button">\s*<span class="action-button-text">View</span>'.format(
-                wrapper_usage_key
+            u'"/container/{}" class="action-button">\\s*<span class="action-button-text">View</span>'.format(
+                re.escape(six.text_type(wrapper_usage_key))
             )
         )
 
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_transcripts.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_transcripts.py
index f6d87ef34e..dffc91ed07 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_transcripts.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_transcripts.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from xmodule.video_module.transcripts_utils import (
 TEST_DATA_CONTENTSTORE = copy.deepcopy(settings.CONTENTSTORE)
 TEST_DATA_CONTENTSTORE['DOC_STORE_CONFIG']['db'] = 'test_xcontent_%s' % uuid4().hex
 
-SRT_TRANSCRIPT_CONTENT = """0
+SRT_TRANSCRIPT_CONTENT = b"""0
 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,000
 Elephant's Dream
 
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module/transcripts_utils.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module/transcripts_utils.py
index 32c52c2330..10e8aa2cbc 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module/transcripts_utils.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module/transcripts_utils.py
@@ -624,13 +624,13 @@ class Transcript(object):
     """
     Container for transcript methods.
     """
-    SRT = 'srt'
-    TXT = 'txt'
-    SJSON = 'sjson'
+    SRT = u'srt'
+    TXT = u'txt'
+    SJSON = u'sjson'
     mime_types = {
-        SRT: 'application/x-subrip; charset=utf-8',
-        TXT: 'text/plain; charset=utf-8',
-        SJSON: 'application/json',
+        SRT: u'application/x-subrip; charset=utf-8',
+        TXT: u'text/plain; charset=utf-8',
+        SJSON: u'application/json',
     }
 
     @staticmethod