背投电视是使用红绿蓝三个单色显像管（称为“投影管”），或是DLP芯片、三片式液晶等等成像，通过特殊电路以及光学设计会聚成像，并把视频图像投影在大面积屏幕上，从而获得大尺寸电视画面的一种电视机。

若投影设备是封装在电视的机壳内，则称为内投影电视。

Rear-projection television (RPTV) is a type of large-screen television display technology. Until approximately 2005, most of the relatively affordable consumer large screen TVs up to 100 in (250 cm) used rear-projection technology. A variation is a video projector, using similar technology, which projects onto a screen.