16:9 sows wrong on a 4:3 TV - just like iDVD

Question

I am aware of the problem with FCP 16:9 movies in iDVD and the workaround for that, but is that true for SP4 also?
My SP4 project is 16:9 set up in General prefs with pan-scan & letterbox, and the Encoding prefs set to 16:9. The imported video has been exported from FCP with Compressor, using DVD MPG2 90 min Best quality 16:9.
On our three DVD-players and two 4:3 TVs the menus and movie plays back in full hight and both sides of the picture is then of course out side of the viewer.
What have done wrong?

Answer 1

What have done wrong?
From your description, I believe your issue is a combination of setting your display mode to 16:9 Pan-Scan & Letterbox and your DVD players' Video (or TV Shape) setting selected as 4:3 Pan & Scan.
Since this can be somewhat confusing, let me break it down:
First, the settings on your DVD players. Many players have 3 settings for Video (sometimes labeled as TV Shape):
16:9 (Don't think this needs explanation)
4:3 Letterbox
4:3 Pan-Scan (Sometimes labeled as 4:3 Normal)
Now, it's time to break down how the 16:9 Display Modes in DVDSP correspond to those 4:3 DVD player settings:
16:9 Letterbox: will always be forced material to display as letterbox regardless of the player's 4:3 setting
16:9 Pan-Scan: material will pan-scanned (center cropped) regardless of the player's 4:3 setting
16:9 Pan-Scan & Letterbox: material will be letterboxed if the player is set to 4:3 Letterbox but pan-scanned if the player is set to 4:3 Pan-Scan
Your issue lies, I believe, with marrying the #3 option in both settings. The quickest fix should be adjusting the setting on your DVD players to 4:3 Letterbox, that should playback your material correctly.
However, I'd argue that it's good practice to always set your display mode for 16:9-encoded material in DVDSP to 16:9 Letterbox since you won't always have access to the set top player to alter those settings.
And, I'd say, reserve the use of 16:9 Pan-Scan & Letterbox only for menus - so long as you design those menus correctly to account for the area that will be cropped off then viewed on a 4:3 TV.