I also have a problem trying to play a H.264 (MPEG4/AVC) .ts-file. It's a 1080i file from a Sky Sports broadcast.
Trying to play the file crashes both JR Media Center and Zoomplayer (probably because they use the same filters), but plays fine with PowerDVD 7.3. Quicktime HD trailers play fine in MC and ZP, and as far as I know, they use the same codec, only a different container (.mov instead of .ts).
Maybe my FFDShow version is too old, guess I'll try to install a newer one.