Free online WTV to MPEG converter

What the WTV format is

WTV, or Windows Recorded TV, is a Microsoft container used primarily by Windows Media Center in Windows Vista and Windows 7. It stores recorded digital television content, including video, audio, metadata, electronic-program-guide information, and sometimes captions. WTV files commonly appear in the Windows Media Center recorded-TV folder with the .wtv extension.

The container may hold MPEG-2 video from broadcast or cable recordings, or H.264 video from some digital television sources. A WTV file is not necessarily encoded with one fixed codec, so the required output settings depend on the source stream.

What the MPEG format is

For video conversion, “MPEG” usually means an MPEG program stream saved as .mpg or .mpeg, commonly containing MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video with MPEG audio. MPEG-2 program streams were widely supported by DVD-era players, set-top boxes, televisions, and older editing software.

MPEG output is useful when a target device specifically requires MPEG-2 video, when compatibility with legacy software matters, or when the source is already MPEG-2 and can be copied without re-encoding. It is less efficient than H.264 or H.265, so the converted file may be larger at comparable visual quality.

How to actually convert WTV to MPEG

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software. For local batch processing and precise control, FFmpeg is the most practical desktop option because it can read WTV containers and select either stream copying or re-encoding.

Convert with FFmpeg without re-encoding

First test whether the WTV contains compatible MPEG-2 video and MPEG audio:

ffprobe "recording.wtv"

If the video is MPEG-2 and the audio is compatible with an MPEG program stream, copy both streams:

ffmpeg -i "recording.wtv" -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v copy -c:a copy "recording.mpg"

Stream copying is fast and preserves the original quality, but it can fail when the source uses H.264, AAC, AC-3, multiple incompatible streams, or broadcaster-specific metadata. The -map options select the first video and first audio stream; change them when the recording contains several language or subtitle tracks.

Re-encode to broadly compatible MPEG-2

Use MPEG-2 video and MP2 audio when the target device expects a conventional MPEG program stream:

ffmpeg -i "recording.wtv" -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v mpeg2video -q:v 3 -c:a mp2 -b:a 192k -f mpeg "recording.mpg"

The -q:v 3 setting provides good quality with FFmpeg’s quality-based MPEG-2 encoder; lower values generally increase quality and file size. For a fixed bitrate, replace it with a setting such as -b:v 6000k -maxrate 8000k -bufsize 1835k. Use -f mpeg to force an MPEG program-stream output even if the filename extension is changed.

Convert only a section

To export a segment beginning at 30 minutes and lasting 10 minutes, place the seeking option before the input for faster approximate seeking:

ffmpeg -ss 00:30:00 -i "recording.wtv" -t 00:10:00 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v mpeg2video -q:v 3 -c:a mp2 -b:a 192k "segment.mpg"

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

If the WTV already contains MPEG-2 video, stream copying avoids generational loss. Re-encoding is necessary when the source codec or audio format is unsuitable for the required MPEG profile, and it can introduce quality loss while increasing processing time.

Copy-protected or DRM-restricted recordings may not decode or convert normally; conversion tools cannot legitimately bypass that protection. Some WTV recordings also contain broadcast glitches, variable frame rates, interlacing, or multiple audio tracks. Keep interlaced video when the destination is an older television workflow, or deinterlace deliberately during encoding if the file is intended for progressive computer playback.

Verify the result with ffprobe "recording.mpg" and test it on the target device. A file named .mpg is not automatically compatible with every MPEG player because MPEG-1, MPEG-2, audio codecs, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate still determine playback support.