A method for detecting a freeze-frame condition comprises receiving a sequence of images from at least one digital device; selectively encoding a first subset of the sequence of images using a first coding scheme that causes an adjustment to an image characteristic of the selected images being encoded; selectively encoding a second subset of the sequence of images using a second coding scheme; storing the first encoded subset and second encoded subset; retrieving the stored first encoded subset and second encoded subset; selectively decoding the first subset of the selected images using the first coding scheme and selectively decoding the second subset of the selected images using the second coding scheme to re-create the sequence of images. A freeze-frame condition in the re-created sequence of images is identifiable based on a plurality of decoded images being different with respect to the image characteristic across multiple decoded image frames.