Part 5/11:
Gender and Racial Composition of Showrunners and Creators
The report underscores a stark reality—over 92% of show creators are white, and approximately 77.5% of leads are white as well. Meanwhile, its data confirms that shows with diverse or underrepresented leads often outperform their counterparts in ratings, suggesting that diverse narratives can be just as, if not more, engaging.
Despite these findings, underrepresentation persists, especially among Latinx creators and actors. The report also indicates that streaming platforms tend to favor licensing older content with proven appeal, which often features predominantly white casts and leads, over newer, diverse projects that haven't yet secured the same viewership figures.