UCLA Report Highlights Streaming Success of Diverse and Female-Led TV Shows

New research finds that women and people of color drive higher ratings for current streaming series, despite underrepresentation in leading roles and behind-the-scenes positions.

• The UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report analyzed the top 250 streaming TV series from 2023, examining diversity among cast, creators, and audience engagement metrics.
• Shows led by actors of color and featuring underrepresented stories had higher median ratings across all demographics, particularly among women viewers.
• Despite these successes, 80% of the most-watched streaming shows were led by white actors, and only 24% featured leads of color.
• Women emerged as the most engaged streaming audience, over-indexing in viewership for nine of the top 10 shows ranked by household minutes watched.
• The study calls for a shift away from reliance on older, long-running series, emphasizing the need for new, diverse content to attract and retain subscribers.

4 Articles

Los Angeles Times Variety TheWrap The Hollywood Reporter