<p>An image characteristic judgment circuit (13) analyzes input image data to acquire first luminance data indicating a luminance of a backlight (12) within one vertical period and image characteristic data corresponding to the first luminance data. An image data conversion circuit (14) subjects the input image data to a conversion in accordance with the image characteristic data and outputs the converted image data to a liquid crystal panel (11). One vertical period is divided into a plurality of sections. A period-by-period luminance calculation circuit (17) acquires second luminance data indicating a luminance of the backlight (12) in each of the sections according to the first luminance data. A luminance setting circuit (18) uses the second luminance data to control the luminance of the backlight (12). Thus, the luminance of the backlight (12) is changed in one vertical period so as to reduce the flickers on a screen.</p>
