An FM carrier is FM-modulated with a video signal for recordal on a magnetic medium. The phase of the FM carrier corresponding to a tip portion of a horizontal synchronizing pulse in the video signal is reset to, and the phase is fixed at, a reference phase at a leading edge of the horizontal synchronizing pulse and is fixed during every period of the horizontal synchronizing pulse width. In reproducing the video signal, the FM carrier, with its frequency doubled, is demodulated by a pulse count type FM demodulator having a frequency-doubling function. The FM carrier is always maintained in phase with the horizontal synchronizing pulse in the video signal, so that beat stripes or moire do not appear on the reproduced picture, and interference due to the leakage appears as reproduced picture distortion in correlation with the video signal. A reference burst signal necessary to a time base correction is extracted from the reproduced FM carrier.