HDTV to DVD -- Odd framerate conversion

I'm trying to convert a 1080i TS file to DVD, but I'm completely lost on what to do about the frame rate. I'll admit I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to HD sources, and I assumed it would be 29.97i or some such flavor, but Mpeg2Repair reports: 1920 x 1080, 29.97 fps (24.13 fps Telecine) Examining the frames, the video is progressive. I thought maybe it was 29.97p and I started with assumefps(29.97). Too far off. So then I guessed the telecine info meant 23.976 or 24 with pulldown flags, but 23.976 made the video longer than the audio as did 24fps. So mpeg2repair was right and assumefps(24.13) syncs the audio and video lengths. I just don't know where to go from there. changefps(23.976) would probably make a jerky conversion as would a decimate filter (there doesn't appear to be any duplicate frames). If it were an even 24fps I guess dgpulldown would work, but it's not even. I'm sort of left wondering if I need to assumefps(23.976), then re-encode the audio and subtitles to slow them for the speed change. None of it sounds right in my head. Is this normal for HDTV? My Googling is coming up with nada on how to deal with this properly. Edit: Correction there is some occasional interlace artifacts (but it's largely progressive and not the 3:2 pattern you'd expect). Since the source is mpeg2, it can't be something like MBAFF can it?

There is no 1080p that is broadcast, it is 1080i. It may look progressive, because of the 2:3 pulldown, but it is 1080i. I think DirecTv, or Dish, is trying to do some 1080p, but I think it is 1080p23.976. Too bad you are trying to throw away all of that good HD video. I don't know what program you are trying to use (it would have been nice to indicate what you are using and how you are using it). Since DVD video wants to be 29.97 interlaced, you should leave well enough along and encode to 720x480i29.97, tff (top field first), anamorphic widescreen.

Is it then some sort of hybrid frame rate with pulldown flags? Previously set DGIndex to ignore flags, and unless I use assumefps(24.13), the audio and video do not sync. Edit (post above edited for clarity): I didn't know 1080i could use pulldown flags, but that's obviously the case here. I'm assuming this is some poorly conceived telecining (since without flags the framerate is strange, there are duplicate frames ever several hundred or so, and infrequent combing artifacts). I reran DGIndex set to honor flags. My new script looks like this: Code:

The source was a made for TV flick on a basic cable channel. Set to ignore flags, DGIndex reports 29.97fps and 96.86% film. @MrVideo - Do you think my script in post 3 would be good then? @manono - I'll try forcing it into 23.976 first. If the movement is jerky I'll try 24.13 with pulldown. I suppose at 24.13, the correct thing to do would be to separate fields before resizing to keep from blurring any of the interlaced frames.