UCLA Hollywood diversity report highlights the importance of women in TV audience
As a seasoned movie lover with a keen eye for diversity and representation, I find the latest UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report both enlightening and disheartening. Enlightening because it confirms what many of us have long suspected – that audiences crave stories that reflect the rich tapestry of our society, and disheartening because the industry seems to be lagging behind in meeting this demand.
Although recent research by UCLA shows changes in some areas, Hollywood continues to have fewer women and ethnic minorities in significant creative and leading positions, despite the fact that these groups make up a significant portion of television viewers.
On Tuesday, the publication titled “UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report Presents: Streaming Television in 2023” breaks from its traditional approach of assessing the TV industry based on conventional TV season schedules, instead focusing on the streaming television scene.
The recent investigation shifted its focus from upcoming TV productions to the popular shows streamed in 2023 across various platforms. This includes “library” content, or series that have concluded but can still be viewed. Unlike previous studies, this one concentrates on the viewing preferences of the audience instead of the production process.
Ana-Christina Ramón, co-founder of the Hollywood Diversity Report, stated that due to television productions being on hold for much of 2023 and streaming services becoming more popular than traditional broadcast and cable, there was a need to adjust our approach to analyzing TV content in order to grasp what viewers prefer on their screens. She explained that the TV industry has undergone significant transformation over the past decade. Today’s shows are no longer striving merely to stand out among new releases; instead, they are fighting against an entire library of content from the past.
Movies
In the UCLA’s most recent study on Hollywood diversity from 2023, it was found that women and individuals of color significantly contributed to boosting viewership on streaming platforms for movies that year.
This research analyzed the demographic characteristics of lead actors, creators, and executives in the top 250 TV series streaming from January 1st to December 31st, 2023, across major platforms. It focused on race, gender, and disability status of main actors; race and gender of show creators; genres and broadcasting environments; Nielsen ratings and total viewing time; as well as the racial and gender composition of those with TV production deals.
The research suggests that the total viewing time doesn’t give a full picture of the story. According to this measurement, it was found that in 2023, 77.5% of the most-viewed streaming series had predominantly white actors, compared to just 5.5% with Black leads, 4.4% with Latinx leads, 2.2% with Asian leads, 1.8% with Middle Eastern or North African leads, and 9.3% with multiracial leads. Regrettably, no shows had Native actors in the lead role.
Based on the findings, shows with actors of color in leading roles or telling stories about underrepresented communities received a higher median rating (the midpoint of ratings for TV-owning households watching a specific program) compared to other shows, indicating that these programs enjoyed greater popularity among all viewer demographics.
“Darnell Hunt, interim chancellor at UCLA and co-author of the report with Ramón, pointed out that shows with more episodes and seasons, often older ones, get an advantage when measuring total viewing time on streaming platforms. This is problematic because current shows, which research has consistently shown to be more diverse, start off at a disadvantage. Over time, this disparity only serves to reinforce the longstanding issue of inequality that’s deeply rooted in the entertainment industry.
Even though traditional hits like “Suits,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” dominate lists based on total viewing time, when we factor in viewership ratings, shows such as “Bluey,” “Cocomelon,” “Wednesday,” “Queen Charlotte,” and “Beef” would also make it into the top 10 most popular shows, according to the report.
The research additionally revealed that women and ethnic minorities remain significant segments in the entertainment viewership. In terms of ratings, these groups were disproportionately represented among viewers, but women watched more minutes overall. As per the findings, women are the most dedicated television spectators.
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2024-12-17 17:31