Although on-screen diversity is improving, White men continue to dominate top executive ranks in the US TV industry, according to UCLA.
Findings from Part 2 of the 2020 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, reveals that “there’s a stubborn structural gridlock at the highest ranks and behind the camera”. In Part 1 one of the report, which analysed the US movie business, the authors concluded that the industry’s narrative on diversity was a Tale of two Hollywoods, as reported.
Part two, which focuses on television broadcast, cable and digital programming, also concludes that the executive ranks of the TV industry remain “overwhelmingly” White and male. This year, White people hold 92% chair/CEO positions, of which 68% are men. The statistics are similar for senior executives (84% White, 60% male) and unit heads (87% White, 54% male).
DISPARITIES BEHIND THE CAMERA
Although “there has been a lot of progress for women and people of colour in front of the camera, unfortunately, there has not been the same level of progress behind the camera”, stated Darnell Hunt, Dean of the Social Sciences division at UCLA College, and Co-author of the report. “Most notably in the executive suite, there has been very little change since we began compiling data five years ago. That’s very telling, particularly in light of our current racial reckoning.”
The analysis found that the greatest racial and gender disparities are in behind-the-camera jobs such as show creator, writer and director. Key findings revealed that:
- Among digital programmes, just 10.3% of show creators were minorities; in broadcast, 10.7%; and 14.7% for cable.
- Women held 28.6% of show creator titles for digital programmes, 28.1% for broadcast and 22.4% for cable.
- In 2018–19, only 24% of credited writers were minorities. Additionally, only 21.8% of all episodes airing or streaming were directed by minorities across broadcast, cable and digital platforms.
UNDERREPRESENTATION PROBLEM
“Just as with film, it’s those at the top of the television industry who have the most power to foster talent and invest in programming,” explained Ana-Christina Ramon, Co-author of the report and Director of Research and Civic Engagement at UCLA’s Social Sciences division. “The underrepresentation of people of colour in the executive suite, and as creators, writers and directors is problematic, even if there are more people of colour in acting roles. When people of colour do not control their own narrative, their characters’ storylines may lack authenticity, may be written stereotypically or their characters may even be depicted as ‘raceless’.”
ON-SCREEN DIVERSITY GAINS
Although women and minorities made gains in nearly all of the 13 TV employment categories tracked by the report, the numbers still fall short of proportional representation. On a positive note, however, on-screen representation is approaching levels proportionate to the overall population.
Women actors achieved parity in lead roles of digital scripted shows (49.4%) and almost did so among lead roles in scripted cable shows (44.8%). People of colour held 24% of all lead acting slots on broadcast shows in 2018-19 – that’s almost a fivefold increase from 2011-12 when it was 5.1%. In 2018-19, minority actors were almost proportionally represented (35%) in lead roles for scripted cable shows, compared to the country’s overall population (40.2%).
MINORITY REPRESENTATION
When it comes to on-screen representation, statistics reveal that Black actors have fared better than the other minority groups. Black actors reached proportional representation (12.9%) among lead actors in cable-scripted shows in 2017-18, and they accounted for 14.1% in 2018-19.
Latinos and Asian Americans, however, remain significantly underrepresented in nearly all TV industry positions. There is also minimal presence in any TV job category for people of Middle Eastern and North African descent. Shockingly, Native Americans have virtually zero representation.
“Over time, work has been done to improve representation among certain groups, like Black actors in particular,” said Hunt. “But the near absence of Native Americans in these jobs is potent evidence that systems of racial erasure continue to exist.”
AUDIENCES VALUE DIVERSITY
Interestingly, both Hollywood Diversity Reports found that all audiences value and respond to diversity. Among Black households, all 10 of the top-rated broadcast TV shows in 2018-19 featured casts that were at least 21% minority. The report revealed that White households value diverse shows too. In fact, eight of the top 10 broadcast scripted shows among White viewers had casts that were at least 21% minority.
However, according to the report authors, the big question is whether the nation’s current racial reckoning will have a significant effect on the industry’s hiring practices which will be apparent in next year’s report.
Click here to download a copy of the report.
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