Latinos Underrepresented on Streaming Shows: UCLA Report
- A new UCLA study highlights the persistent lack of Latino representation both in front of and behind the camera in the streaming television industry, despite a growing Latino...
- UCLA's latest Hollywood Diversity report, released Tuesday, December 16, 2024, examined the top 250 series available on streaming platforms, encompassing both current titles and library content.The report reveals...
- The report's key findings regarding Latino representation are stark:
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UCLA Report Reveals Continued Underrepresentation of Latinos in Television
Table of Contents
A new UCLA study highlights the persistent lack of Latino representation both in front of and behind the camera in the streaming television industry, despite a growing Latino population.
Key Findings of the 2024 UCLA Hollywood diversity Report
UCLA’s latest Hollywood Diversity report, released Tuesday, December 16, 2024, examined the top 250 series available on streaming platforms, encompassing both current titles and library content.The report reveals a concerning decline in overall cultural diversity, particularly for Latinos, in 2024’s most popular comedies and dramas.
The report’s key findings regarding Latino representation are stark:
- Only 1.1% of the top streaming scripted shows were created by Latino writers,directors,or producers.
- 3.3% of the top streaming comedies and dramas featured Latino lead actors.
- 5.2% of the top streaming comedies and dramas were co-led by Latino actors.
- when focusing solely on current streaming shows (excluding library titles), 1.1% were created by Latinos and 6.2% were led by Latino actors.
These figures demonstrate a critically important disparity between Latino representation in the television industry and their proportion of the U.S.population, which is approaching 20% according to recent Pew Research Center data.
Historical Context and Trends
UCLA’s Hollywood Diversity Report has been tracking representation in the entertainment industry since 2014, utilizing data collected as far back as 2011. ana-Christina Ramón, UCLA’s director of the Entertainment and Media Research Initiative, emphasizes that this pattern of underrepresentation is not a new phenomenon.
“It’s a consistent finding in our reports. But the numbers are such a stark level of underrepresentation because of the fact that we’re almost 20% of the population,” Ramón stated.
“Even when the numbers are a little bit better, they’re never close to where they should be.”
The report’s long-term data reveals a cyclical pattern. While there have been occasional improvements in representation, these gains are often short-lived, and the overall trend remains one of persistent underrepresentation for Latinos and othre marginalized groups.
Representation Across Different Roles
The UCLA report breaks down representation not only by on-screen roles but also by key behind-the-camera positions. The data reveals significant disparities in the following areas:
| Role | Percentage Latino (Top Streaming Shows) |
|---|---|
| Creators (Writers, Directors, Producers) | 1.1% |
| Lead Actors | 3.3% |
| Co-Lead Actors | 5.2% |
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