An inexpensive ultra-high-frequency (UHF) television tuner and an argon-ion laser are employed for the determination of excited-state lifetimes of a series of common fluorophores. Fluorescence lifetimes are determined in the frequency domain; the results are in good agreement with previously reported values and demonstrate the utility of the new approach for subnanosecond measurements. Binary mixtures of rhodamine 6G and rose bengal can also be resolved with the use of this novel instrument design.