US broadcast TV increases female lead representation
Details
Michelle Clancy
| 15 January 2019

An analysis of 251 US broadcast network dramas in development or production has revealed that 42% feature a strong female lead – more than double that of programmes with a male equivalent. (20%).

According to Ampere Analysis, about 5% of the analysed projects feature an equally weighted male and female couple in the lead roles.

Recently commissioned female-led dramas include ABC’s Trailblazer and Reef Break, CBS’s Melanie and Under the Bridge, Fox’s Remedy, Sisters and 100 Days without Fear, NBC’s Trust, Strong Justice and The Enemy Within, and The CW’s Dorian, Lean on Me and Lifeboat Clique.

The existence of a strong female character is a winning factor when choosing new drama content for the US networks. Of the five nationwide broadcast networks, The CW and NBC have the strongest female bias in terms of the amount of female-led material and new scripted commissioning activity.

The report also found that police dramas were most likely to be accepted for development, regardless of the gender of the lead. And while men are most likely to be cast as police, FBI or CIA officers, women on the other hand enjoy more diversity. Their roles span high-powered professions, from legal to law enforcement, medical to financial and media.

“The content that is being commissioned by the US networks not only reveals the future direction of the industry, but it also tells us a lot about the age we’re living in,” said Guy Bisson, director at Ampere Analysis. “Female roles seem to more accurately reflect the socio-political direction of today’s society, while male roles are perhaps a reflection of the prevailing politics in the US. While the diversity of female drama roles is to be applauded, the flipside is that the lack of diversity in roles for men also presents an opportunity to the networks to try some new approaches to male characterisation.”