HD to dvd mpeg aspect ratio question

[zanos]

I just converted a high definition 16x9 mpeg file to a standard 720x480 dvd mpeg using mainconcept. The resulting file plays in regular 4x3 on my fullscreen tv. Shouldn't it play in letterbox regardless of whether I have a widescreen tv or not. When I play it on my computer it's in 16x9 format. I've converted hd sourced avi files before and those still played in letterbox on my tv so I don't understand why this doesn't. TIA

[Baldrick]

how did you author it to dvd? the 16:9 "flag" must be set when you author, most authoring tools adds it automatically if the source mpg is 16:9 but not all.

[zanos]

You know what? I didn't. I just dumped it onto a dvd and played it directly in my phillips dvd player. That's likely why it's showing fullscreen.