Backlit video display systems where the backlights (for example, LED backlights) are controlled based at least in part on the content of the video signal of the video that is being displayed by the backlit video display system. The system can provide specific control of the three primary colors (for example, red, green and blue LEDs). The system can provide content-based control in a spatial mode. The system is a smart backlighting system with content-based controls at the following levels: (i) spectral, (ii) spatial, and (iii) temporal control. Also, some embodiments may provide a novel way of providing a backlit video display system with night vision (NV) capability through a unique four LED chip architecture.