A system and method for presenting progressively downloaded media programs is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining an estimated length of a media program where the estimated length is based on a plurality of different reported lengths of the media program in reported media program information, presenting at a display device a portion of the media program while it is being delivered by a media delivery system via a progressive download, and enabling active trick play functions for the media program based on the estimated length of the media program until a true time index is generated using an index file at an end of the progressive download of the media program. Other embodiments are disclosed.