MPEG-2 VIDEO COMPRESSION
MPEG-2 is an extension of the MPEG-1 international standard for digital compression of audio and video signals. MPEG-1 was designed to code progressively scanned video at bit rates up to about 1.5 Mbit/s for applications such as CD-i (compact disc interactive). MPEG-2 is directed at broadcast formats at higher data rates; it provides extra algorithmic 'tools' for efficiently coding interlaced video, supports a wide range of bit rates and provides for multichannel surround sound coding.
Quelle:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/papers/paper_14/paper_14.html