Subjective assessment test for MPEG-2 SP@ML (Simple Profile at Main Level), MP@ML (Main Profile at Main Level) and NTSC was conducted using fifteen different sequences. The bit rate for the SP@ML and MP@ML were 4,6,9 and 15 Mbit/s. The test was performed based on the double-stimulus continuous quality-scale (DSCQS) method described in ITU-R Rec. BT. 500-5. The test results show that approximately 9Mbit/s is an appropriate bit rate for digital broadcasting to keep the comparable picture quality distribution with NTSC.
