Today the National Latino Media Council (NLMC) released their annual Television Network Report Cards. NLMC is disappointed that this annual diversity report card reflects a decline in Latino diversity at the four major television networks - ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox.
CBS earned the best overall grade of all the networks for Latino diversity with a “B+”.
ABC which had been seen as a model network in its commitment to diversity slipped to an overall grade of “B-” because it slipped in several key areas, in terms of hiring recurring and reality actors, directors and entertainment executives.
NBC Universal also declined in several categories and earned an overall “B-” grade. NBC is struggling to include a very low number of Latino actors on its scripted programming, and has “disappointing numbers” of Latino writers, producers and directors.
Fox received the lowest grade of “C+” and has a number of areas in which it needs improvement. It should be noted that Fox’s numbers are very difficult to verify because it does not produce the names of the employees for which it takes diversity credit. Lack of transparency has been an ongoing problem with Fox, and NLMC urges Fox to improve upon this next year.
“This was a terrible year for Latinos at the networks,” said Alex Nogales, President and CEO of the NLMC, “African Americans and Asian Pacific Americans posted impressive gains in most categories, but when it came to Latinos, the networks failed us.”
