If it's a CRT (TV tube) and it's displaying a single bright horizontal line in the center of the tube, your vertical deflection circuit has failed. The most likely cause is a dried out electrolytic capacitor.
And if you see the picture with multiple lines through it, your vertical deflection circuit is
on the way out. Sometimes I've found that to be the power transistor is the vertical
deflection circuit. But KJ6EAD is right about leaky caps too.
(It shoud also be said over and over, "Televisions contain lethal voltage levels long after turned off and unplugged." So if you decide that you think you need to open it up, be carful. ~Tim)
this is a pretty simple repair provided you know how to solder on circuit boards...find the vertical output ic it probably has a no. TDAxxx etc. If you're not sure what the part is you're looking at just go enter it part no. into datasheet archive and find out...you are looking for the vertical output.
The chip itself could be bad or the 3-4 capacitors next to it...if you replace the chip use some heat sink grease on the backside...you can get it at radio shack. note the chip you're looking for will be mounted on a heatsink.