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. The system comprises an input for receiving a data stream, a channel buffer for storing the compressed video data, a decoder that decodes the compressed video data and provides the decoded video data to a display device, and an underflow detector that compares the amount of compressed video data in the channel buffer to the required amount of compressed video data. If the amount of compressed video data in the channel buffer is less than the required amount, the decoder to pause before decoding the frame until a sufficient amount of compressed video data is available.