Abstract: A method of finding a given line in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal in which the given line is preceded by a run-in signal and for recovering data on that line. A target line is accessed by counting a number of horizontal pulses after a vertical sync pulse and a test for the run-in signal is made. If the run-in signal is not found, another line in the vicinity of the target line is accessed after a subsequent vertical sync pulse. The process is repeated until the given line is found whereupon the number of horizontal pulses counted is remembered and directly used to access said given line in subsequent vertical blanking intervals. If no run-in signal is found, accessing and testing of corresponding lines in the other field of a two interlaced field television system is performed.