A method of making a hierarchical estimate of image motion for a television signal. A television signal video image is divided into blocks of fixed size, and motion relative to a second video image is determined for each block. Mutually non-overlapping pixel blocks are produced at a lower, more finely resolved hierarchical level. The center points of these blocks are used as the points for an analysis at a level that is located higher in the hierarchy. Preferably, points which lie between image lines and which do not represent real picture elements in the line raster, are investigated in the mutually non-overlapping blocks.