AbstractThough intense work on the development of a full colour flat TV display panel based on gas discharges has produced considerable progress over the last 10 years no practicable technological solutions have been found [1–2]. Of the different approaches the alternating current (ac) discharge has been proved suitable for the alphanumerical and graphical display technique and the direct current (dc) discharge for colour TV panels. To reach such aims as improved optical efficiency, colour gamut and increased life time as well as simpler manufacturing technology and more effective addressing for reducing costs, long‐term basic research in the field of gas discharges and phosphors and the development of special technologies is necessary [3–8]. The present review is an attempt to give a survey of this situation. In Chap. 1 the trends of development, general problems of colour, display types and TV are dealt with, and in Chap. 2 and 3 the literature on dc and ac‐display panels is r