Abstract: A method and system for displaying a series of video frames so that picture corruption from video channel underflows is avoided. The method comprises the steps of receiving a data stream with compressed video data for the series of video frames, storing the compressed video data in a channel buffer, processing a video frame if sufficient compressed video data for the video frame is stored in the channel buffer, and displaying a preceding video frame if insufficient compressed video data for the video frame is stored in the channel buffer. The system, which displays a series of video frames, also addresses the issue of video channel underflow. The video frames are received as compressed video data in a data stream that also includes size parameters, such as the vbv.sub.-- delay parameter in the frame headers of MPEG frames, for each video frame in the series of video frames.