Television signal-seeking automatic tuning system

In an intercarrier television receiver of the type comprising tunable signal translating means responsive to correct reception of a television transmission for producing picture subcarrier and sound subcarrier signals having frequencies spaced from one another by an intercarrier frequency, a signal seeker coupled to said tunable signal translating means for continuously varying the tuning of said receiver over a predetermined television frequency spectrum, and a control circuit for interrupting the tuning operation of said signal seeker at points of correct tuning in said spectrum, the improvement wherein said control circuit comprises first tuned circuit means coupled to said signal translating means and tuned to the frequency of said picture subcarrier for producing a first signal having an amplitude related to the amplitude of said picture subcarrier, second tuned circuit means coupled to said signal translating means and tuned to the frequency of said sound subcarrier for producing a second signal having an amplitude related to the amplitude of said sound subcarrier, and comparator means for monitoring the comparative amplitudes and the amplitude ratio of said first and second signals, said comparator means including signal generating means for producing a control signal operative to interrupt the tuning operation of said signal seeker only when the amplitude of said first signal is higher than the amplitude of said second signal and said first and second signal amplitudes are in a predetermined ratio to one another.