The lifespan of any television is calculated as the time it takes for the screen’s brightness to fall to fifty percent of its original strength. For the average LCD TV, this is somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 hours. The sony lcd tv you buy today is much more likely to last 80,000 or even a 100,000 hours while older models will be down in the 50,000 – 60,000 range.

In addition to loss of brightness, the colors produced on the screen will shift over time as well. But it would take seven years of having the television on 24/7 in order to reach that 60K figure. At eight hours of use a day, your LCD TV would last more than twenty years before hitting 60,000 hours, so newer models will last a very, very long time.

It is possible to prolong the lifespan of your LCD TV. First, you’ll want to adjust the brightness settings as soon as you get it set up. Most TVs are shipped with higher settings that will be visible in showrooms at electronic and department stores, which have much harsher lighting than most homes. Using the “home” or “film” setting for the darker environment of your home will prolong the TV’s lifespan. You also want to be sure to only have the set on when you’re actually watching it. In addition, some models have replaceable backlights, so that as the brightness diminishes, you can install a new light and return your set to its original state.