iTunes (etc.) vs DVD for SD video?

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by mastadge

On the other hand I've also occasionally seen some really shoddy DVDs too.

Very true indeed, especially with releases from smaller companies that encode with awful compression, or source from field blended/PAL masters.

In very rare cases, a SD streaming version can be superior to the DVD equivalent. I recall seeing a comparison with some British/Australian show where the only DVD release of it from the US not only heavily compressed 15 episodes on a DVD5, but had a completely ****ed up frame rate as well (23.976 soft pulldown made from a 29.97i field blended conversion from 25fps/50i native frame rate). The US streaming version of that same British/Australian show ran the proper 25/50fps rate on most providers.