A backlight unit (400) for a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) (1) comprises a light source unit (440) divided into a plurality of independently driven divisions (445), one or more driving parts (431) arranged to selectively supply electric power to at least two of the divisions (445). In this manner, the backlight unit (400) may comprise fewer driving parts (431) than divisions (445). The divisions (445) connected to the same driving part (431) are preferably non-adjacent and parallel to each other. The divisions (445) can be driven in sequence repeatedly so that adjacent divisions (445) are driven for overlapping time periods.
