The exemplary embodiments herein provide an airguide backlight assembly having an anterior element, a reflective pan positioned posterior to the anterior element, and a light source positioned to direct light towards the reflective pan. A lens element may be placed in front of each light source. The reflective pan preferably contains a slope or curve so that light emitted from the light sources can be reflected and/or refracted to distribute the light uniformly to the anterior element. In some embodiments, blinders may be positioned between the light sources and the anterior element as well as between the light sources and the reflective pan.