Audio data is processed from a packetized data stream carrying digital television information in a succession of fixed length transport packets. Some of the packets contain a presentation time stamp (PTS) indicative of a time for commencing the output of associated audio data. After the audio data stream has been acquired, the detected audio packets are monitored to locate subsequent PTS's for adjusting the timing at which audio data is output, thereby providing proper lip synchronization with associated video. Errors in the audio data are processed in a manner which attempts to maintain synchronization of the audio data stream while masking the errors. In the event that the synchronization condition cannot be maintained, for example in the presence of errors over more than one audio frame, the audio data stream is reacquired while the audio output is concealed. An error condition is signaled to the audio decoder by altering the audio synchronization word associated with the audio frame in which the error has occurred.