According to Variety, ABC Entertainment today revealed new inclusion criteria for its prime-time shows to increase the number of minorities underrepresented on screen and behind the scenes.

The initiative is illustrated in a letter sent to creators and colleagues from Simran Sethi, ABC’s executive vice president for development and content strategy, who said it is designed to “ensure multidimensional representation across the entire creative and production process,” according to the commercial release. .

“These new guidelines aim to make our content and our collections as inclusive as possible, and will act as an additional catalyst for real and sustainable change,” Variety quoted Sethi as saying, “We want to take this moment to assess systems and habits in an effort to remove barriers to access and opportunity. For us, we look around the room, see who is not there, and then we take steps not only to get them, but also to prepare them for success. “

to me variety, Delegations include 50 percent or more of regular or repetitive typed characters from underrepresented groups along with “meaningful integration” of themes and story.

“Similar standards are sought from () sub-line staff and creative leadership, including half or more of the episodic directors or writing staff at and above the product level coming from underrepresented groups,” Variety says.

The Walt Disney-owned network expects to achieve these goals within the next few years.

CBS has started a similar program to address diversity concerns in their network.