What is the typical data rate for an SDTV MPEG-2 signal after transcoding from HDTV?

The typical data rate for an SDTV MPEG-2 signal after transcoding from HDTV is in the range of 2-4 Mbps. This lower data rate is due to the reduced resolution and quality requirements of standard definition television compared to high definition television.

When transcoding from a higher bitrate source like HDTV, which may operate at 15 Mbps or higher depending on the content and the complexity of the video, the process involves reducing the resolution and bitrate to fit the standards for standard definition. MPEG-2 compression achieves efficient encoding, which allows for these lower bitrates while maintaining acceptable quality for SDTV broadcasts.

In practical terms, the 2-4 Mbps range is sufficient to deliver a clear and watchable image on standard definition displays, where viewers are not as sensitive to minor quality degradation as they would be with high definition content. This data rate also fits within the bandwidth constraints typical for broadcasting SD content over various media platforms.