Around half of TV and radio broadcasters’ employees are now based outside of London, but more needs to be done to increase diversity in senior roles, according to Ofcom’s latest study on the make-up of the UK industry.
Ofcom’s seventh annual equity, diversity and inclusion in broadcasting report also shows that women, disabled workers and people from minority ethnic backgrounds are continuing to leave the industry in disproportionate numbers.
Data from UK broadcasters, which includes the BBC, Sky and Global, shows that almost half (44%) of TV employees in the UK and over half (54%) of radio employees are now based outside London. One in six (17%) broadcasting employees are based in the north of England.
Women and people from minority ethnic groups are well represented in broadcasting as a whole, reported Ofcom. However, this is not the case at senior levels, where the numbers of women (TV 42%, radio 36%) and people from minority ethnic groups (TV 13%, radio 7%) are below the working population averages of 48% and 14% respectively.
Despite recruiting higher proportions of people from underrepresented groups, broadcasters continue to struggle to retain these staff, who are disproportionately likely to leave their jobs.
Employees with disabilities are still underrepresented at all job levels across the industry. At just 10% in TV and 8% in radio, both are well below the UK average of 16%. At senior levels, people with disabilities make up just 8% of senior managers in both TV and radio.
People from working-class backgrounds are also underrepresented in the whole broadcasting sector. Across TV and radio, just over a quarter (28%) of employees are from a working-class background, below the population average of four in ten (39%).
You are not signed in
Only registered users can comment on this article.
MediaForEurope in talks to acquire stake in Portugal’s Impresa
MFE-MediaForEurope NV, the media group controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family, is looking to expand further in Europe, just weeks after taking over German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1.
Channel 4 launches first-ever FAST channels on Freely
Channel 4 has become the first UK public service broadcaster to launch streaming FAST channels on Freely.
Comcast appoints Mike Cavanagh as Co-Chief Executive
Cable and media giant Comcast has named Michael J. Cavanagh as Co-Chief Executive, effective January 2026.
Particle6 launches talent studio to create AI stars
Eline van der Velden, Founder and CEO of London-based AI production company Particle6, has launched Xicoia, which has been billed as the world’s first AI talent studio designed to create, manage, and monetise digital stars.
.jpg)
Trump threatens to impose tariffs on films made outside America
President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to impose a 100% tariff on films made outside the US.
