A compact backlight system has a light-emitting panel (1) with a front wall (2), a rear wall (3) situated opposite thereto, a first edge surface (4) and, opposite thereto, a second edge surface (5) . A first light source (6) is associated with the first edge surface (4) which is light-transmitting. The light-emitting panel (1) widens over a widening section (100) from the first edge surface (4) in a direction towards the second edge surface (5), and the rear wall (3) is provided over the widening section (100) with a multiplicity of steps (13, 13', . . . ) each having a surface (17) facing the front wall (2) which is substantially parallel to the front wall (2).