TV industry must do better on equality

Broadcasters need to improve the diversity of their employees, says industry regulator Ofcom. Ofcom’s recent report, Diversity and equal opportunities in television, finds that women, ethnic-minority groups and disabled people are all under-represented in the industry.


The report focuses on the main five broadcasters — the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky and Viacom (owner of Channel 5).


Although most broadcasters provided Ofcom with information on gender, the television industry could offer ethnicity data for only 81% of its workers, and disability figures for just 69%. 


And broadcasters provided even less information for other characteristics: they provided no data on the age of 43% of employees, provided no information on the sexual orientation of 62% of employees, and no data on religion or belief for 67% of employees.


The report finds that women are under-represented, particularly at senior levels. All of the main five broadcasters have more men in senior roles than women.


Ethnic minority employees make up 12% of employees across the five broadcasters, lower than the UK population average of 14%. Ethnic minority representation is even lower at senior levels.


Disabled people appear to be significantly under-represented. Just 3% of employees across the five broadcasters self-reported as disabled, compared to 18% of the UK population.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/guidance/diversity/diversity-equal-opportunities-television