It is now possible to correct flicker without the risk of correcting
flicker by error if a moving subject exists in the scene by using values
detected in the past in order to prevent degradation of image quality
from taking place. The integral value obtained by integrating an input
video signal that includes a flicker component over not less than a
horizontal period and the difference value between integral values of
adjacent fields or frames is normalized. Then, the amplitude component
and the phase component of the flicker component are estimated. A flicker
coefficient for canceling the amplitude component and the phase component
of the flicker component estimated is generated on the basis of the
probability of being under the lighting of a fluorescent lamp. The
flicker coefficient and the input video signal are computationally
determined to obtain a video signal with a reduced flicker component.