A video stream demultiplxer receives video streams comprising a selected current content channel and one or more adjacent content channels. Time stamp management is concurrently performed on the adjacent content channels while decoding the selected current content channel. Timing information such as Decoding Time Stamp (DTS) and Presentation Time Stamp (PTS) values, and/or random access points (RAPs) may be determined for pictures stored for the selected current content channel and the adjacent content channels. The determined timing information is utilized to determine a Program Clock Reference (PCR) value for each of the selected current channel and the adjacent channels for channel monitoring. A timebase, derived from a PCR rate that is determined based on the determined PCR value, is determined for decoding the selected current content channel. An adjacent content channel, which is primed during decoding of the selected current content channel, may be directly decoded for display if selected.