PURPOSE: To prevent phase offset, etc., occurring by detecting phase difference between a first reference synchronizing signal and a first reproducing synchronizing signal, and deriving a phase difference signal as a time base error signal.

CONSTITUTION: A phase frequency comparator 5 detects the phase difference between a reference horizontal synchronizing signal Ref-H(e) and a reproducing horizontal synchronizing signal Pb-H(f), and derives the phase difference signal as the time base error signal. Furthermore, the comparator detects the phase state of a reproducing vertical synchronizing signal Pb-V(d) for a reference vertical synchronizing signal Ref-V(c), and the supply of the reference horizontal synchronizing signal Ref-H(e) to the phase frequency comparator 5 is prohibited for a period in accordance with the degree of phase lead when it is set in a phase leading state, and that of the reproducing horizontal synchronizing signal Pb-H(f) to the phase frequency comparator 5 is prohibited for the period in accordance with the degree of phase lag when it is set in a phase lagging state.