Abstract

A method and apparatus for dropout compensation of composite color television signals is described in which both the luminance and chrominance components forming a dropout compensation signal are derived from the same portion of the original color television information signal without dropouts immediately preceding the dropout. One horizontal line of the color television signal without dropouts is continuously stored in a memory. When a dropout occurs, the stored television signal line is circulated in the memory. The length of delay of the chrominance component of the stored television signal is controlled from line to line in response to the phase of the color burst synchronizing component of the color television signal being compensated for dropouts. The length of delay of the luminance component of the stored television signal is controlled on consecutive lines in response to the horizontal line synchronizing component of the color television signal being compensated for dropouts. The respectively delayed chrominance and luminance components are combined to form a composite dropout compensation signal which is inserted in the original color television signal in place of a detected dropout.