PURPOSE: To simplify the program search and to attain highly accurate retrieval position by recording a prescribed tracking signal on the prescribed track upon normal recording and detecting the tracking signal upon reproduction for the program searching operation.

CONSTITUTION: When a program searching switch 3 is operated in the case of recording a video signal, a pilot signal generating circuit 5 sends a pilot signal with a prescribed frequency for a prescribed time band and the signal is recorded onto a prescribed area of a track of a video tape. In the case of fast forward reproduction, when the program searching switch is operated, a reference pilot signal is sent from the pilot signal generating circuit 5, and ATF circuit 2 selects a pilot signal relating to the reference pilot signal from the reproduced pilot signal and generates a tracking signal and sends it to a sample and hold circuit 7 via an amplifier 6 and a system control microcomputer 4 uses a control signal sent from a ΔFa detection deciding circuit 8 to send a control signal to stop the video tape to the capstan control section.