Channel 4 in the UK has published new Commissioning Diversity Guidelines, committing to ensure at least 20% of its editorial decision-makers are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Production companies must meet two different sets of on and off-screen criteria.
On screen a show must either focus on ethnicity, disability, LGBTQ+, lower socio-economic groups and other under-represented groups, or feature a diverse mix of presenters, contributors or actors. These include ensuring at least 20% of presenters are from an ethnically diverse group and every series will have at least one disabled actor or character. Disabled performers will also be sought for every disabled role.
Shows must also comply with at least two sets of three off-screen criteria.All shows require one or more ethnically diverse senior leaders on production teams, encompassing roles such as head of production, director or producer. The inclusion of disabled talent is also strongly encouraged.
Productions must also meet one of two further criteria. The first is around total salary spend – with at least 20% allocated to ethnically diverse and disabled talent.The second, nations and regions-focused effort is structured around ensuring a certain proportion of the total production team is ethnically diverse or disabled, depending on location.