Systems and methods directed to determining motion in a video signal are provided. A plurality of pixels of a plurality of adjacent field lines of alternating parity of the video signal are evaluated to generate a plurality of differential values. A sign of each differential value is determined, and when each differential value has the same sign, at least one differential value can be compared with a threshold value. Responsive to the comparison of at least one differential value with a threshold value, a motion coefficient indicative of a magnitude of motion associated with one of the plurality of pixels can be generated.