What is MPG?

MPG (MPEG) files contain video compressed using MPEG-1 (VCD quality, ~352×240) or MPEG-2 (DVD quality, up to 1920×1080) standards. MPEG-1 was designed for CD-ROM video (Video CDs popular in Asia), while MPEG-2 became the standard for DVDs, digital TV broadcasts, and satellite TV. MPG files use lossy compression with I-frames (full images), P-frames (predicted), and B-frames (bi-directional) for efficient storage.

MPG is used for DVD video authoring, digital TV recording (DVR systems), video archiving, and legacy video playback. It's the foundation format for DVD-Video discs worldwide. While largely superseded by H.264/MP4 for modern use, MPG remains common in broadcasting, professional video equipment, and DVD production. Files are typically 1-4 GB per hour at DVD quality.

Did you know? MPEG-2 is still used by TV broadcasters worldwide for digital television!

History

The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) developed these standards to enable digital video compression for various applications from CDs to broadcast television.

Key Milestones

  • 1993: MPEG-1 standard finalized
  • 1995: Video CD format launched
  • 1996: MPEG-2 standard released
  • 1997: DVD-Video uses MPEG-2
  • 2000s: Digital TV adoption
  • Present: Legacy format, still in broadcast

Key Features

Core Capabilities

  • MPEG-1/2: VCD and DVD quality
  • I/P/B Frames: Efficient compression
  • Interlaced: TV broadcast support
  • Audio: MP2/MP3 audio tracks
  • Universal: All players support
  • Broadcast: TV standard format

Common Use Cases

DVD Video

DVD authoring standard

Broadcasting

Digital TV transmission

DVR Recording

TV recording systems

Archiving

Legacy video storage

Advantages

  • Universal player compatibility
  • DVD standard format
  • Good compression ratio
  • Broadcast TV standard
  • Hardware decoder support
  • Proven reliability
  • Wide software support

Disadvantages

  • Outdated compression (vs H.264)
  • Large file sizes
  • Limited to SD/HD quality
  • Not efficient for streaming
  • Superseded by modern codecs
  • Interlacing artifacts

Technical Information

Format Specifications

Specification Details
File Extension .mpg, .mpeg, .m2v
MIME Type video/mpeg
Video Codec MPEG-1, MPEG-2
Audio Codec MP2, MP3, AC3
Resolution 352×240 (VCD) to 1920×1080 (HD)
Bitrate 1-15 Mbps (typical DVD: 4-8 Mbps)

Common Tools

  • Players: VLC, Windows Media Player, MPC-HC
  • Editors: Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas, Avidemux
  • Converters: HandBrake, FFmpeg, Format Factory
  • Authoring: DVD Flick, DVDStyler, TMPGEnc