The end of
the year means one thing in the world of LGBT television: GLAAD’s annual ‘Where
We Are on TV’ report, analysing the overall
diversity and the number of LGBT characters on
broadcast and cable networks in America for the upcoming 2014-2015 TV season.
Having studied the report one issue is becoming
clear; the difference in content between broadcast, cable and online streaming.
In total of the 813 broadcast series regular
characters 32 were lesbian, gay and bisexual, a feeble 4%, while in cable,
series regular characters was exactly double that of broadcast channels, a
pleasing 64. Additionally, GLAAD counted 41 LGBT recurring characters on scripted cable series.
Moreover, racial and ethnic diversity amongst LGBT characters
on scripted cable series is much more balanced and diverse than on broadcast television and
has improved compared to last year. Cable also including 8 multiracial characters, compared to broadcast which had zero multiracial characters.
It seems this is also true with the variety of sexual orientation, with cable having a more diverse range of sexualities and both male and female sexualities, compared to broadcast programmers.
So this has left americans with queer characters on broadcast television (some of the most accessible images of LGBT people) with 47% white gay males, one in four people of colour and not one single transgender individual. When in reality about half of LGBT americans are women and one in three is a person of colour.
So why is it that cable and online streaming
programmes are able to provide more diverse characters than the
major broadcasting networks?
According to US law “cable
is not limited and does not require the same rigorous standard of review that the Court applies to regulations of
broadcasting.” In simpler terms, cable channels do not have such heavy content regulations as broadcast. Cable television system operators make their own selection of channels and programs to be distributed to subscribers in response to consumer demands. Whilst broadcast channels have a tighter 'broadcast law' which holds content restrictions including everything from profanity to public service broadcasting regulations.
With few or no content restrictions, cable
networks and digital platforms such as Netflix and Amazon can push the envelope
creatively, something broadcast networks can’t, bound by FCC (Federal Communications Commission) restrictions. Chairman
of NBC Bob Greenblatt concluded “Cable has the advantage of doing shows that
are darker, more interesting on some levels and that go into subject matter
that just feels cooler than some of the stuff we can do. It’s just a fact of
life”.
Ariane Lange, a Buzzfeed News reporter, just a few days ago shared her anger with a lack of improvement of diversity in broadcast television from this years GLAAD report. However I would argue you can't really complain or compare broadcast networks with that of cable or online platforms. The programmers are arguably doing their best in a outdated controlling law system.
From looking at what is successful and popular on other more flexible channels and platforms (Modern Family, Orange is The New Black and American Horror Story to name but a few) it is clear Americans and people worldwide want to see diversity that is a reflection of their society therefore 'broadcast law' has got to change. Otherwise broadcast television creatively and financially is going to struggle to keep up and survive with contemporary demands in modern television.
For all of the facts and figures used in todays blog follow this list!
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