For better picture quality in LCD TVs, it is important to reach a steady emitting state within as short a time as possible in the initial stage after the TV is turned on. The initial characteristics of LCD TVs are mainly determined by the properties of the backlight. In the present study, the photometric and spectroscopic properties of a 55-inch Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) backlights were investigated. The measured properties include time dependence of the spectrum, luminance, and color coordinates. The results show that the change in the spectroscopic properties of the LED backlight is smaller than that of the CCFL backlight. This indicates that the initial picture quality of the LCD TV with the LED backlight is superior to that with the CCFL backlight. The origins of this difference were discussed in relation to the inherent characteristics of the two light sources.