PURPOSE: To eliminate dot disturbance in a pattern having a vertical change component of a color signal having absolutely no vertical correlation especially with preceding and succeeding lines and to prevent cross color at a pattern having a horizontal high frequency component of a luminance signal.

CONSTITUTION: A vertical correlation detection circuit 31 detects a pattern having a vertical change component of a color signal having no vertical correlation with preceding and succeeding lines and a pattern having a horizontal high frequency component of a luminance signal. A selection circuit 32 selects an output of a comb-line filter circuit 29 or an output of a band pass filter circuit 30 in response to the detection signal to obtain a signal subjected to proper Y/C separation.