A method of decoding data packets of an encoded video program using a decoder (60) that is controlled by decoding parameters (106) loaded into control registers (102), the method including sequentially acquiring data packets (42, 46) that include decoding parameters and associated encoded video data, and processing each one of the packets as it is acquired by storing the decoding parameters from the packet into the control registers (102) and decoding the encoded video data using the associated decoding parameters (106).