The television industry seems to be facing a setback in terms of diversity, especially when it comes to Hispanic representation. A recent report from Samba TV has revealed some concerning statistics about the lack of diversity on TV screens.
While the overall diversity in the United States is on the rise, the same cannot be said for television. The report indicates that the representation of non-white leads on TV has decreased by 12% compared to the previous year. In fact, only 39% of the top-billed actors in the top 50 TV shows of 2023 were non-white, with Hispanic actors experiencing a significant decline.
Hispanic actors, in particular, have been hit hard, accounting for only 6% of the top-billed actors in the top shows. This marks a 40% decrease in Hispanic representation from the previous year, highlighting a troubling trend in the industry.
Samba TV gathered data on the top 25 shows from both linear TV and streaming platforms that were released in the first half of 2024. Despite the decline in diversity, the report found that diverse casting can actually attract a larger audience. Viewers from non-white households showed a 39% correlation with programs that featured a higher percentage of non-white stars, with Black households showing the strongest correlation at 46%.
Audiences tend to gravitate towards shows that reflect their own experiences and identities. Some of the top-performing shows highlighted in the report include Netflix’s Griselda and Disney’s Echo, which feature entirely non-white casts. On linear TV, CBS’ The Equalizer and ABC’s Will Trent are resonating well with diverse ethnic groups.
The report also sheds light on the differences in representation across various ethnic groups. Black representation seems to be more prominent on linear TV, while Asian representation excels on streaming platforms. Shows like FX’s Shōgun and Max’s The Sympathizer are leading the way in Asian representation. Additionally, streaming platforms like Prime Video are gaining traction among Black audiences with shows like The Underdoggs, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Role Play.
However, the report underscores a glaring lack of Hispanic representation across both linear TV and streaming. Only 3% of the leads in the top linear shows were Hispanic, a figure that Samba TV deems alarmingly low. This raises concerns about the industry’s efforts to reflect the diversity of the audience on screen.