Creative Diversity Network (CDN), the industry body leading the work to measure and report on diversity on and off-screen in UK television, has announced the launch of a new, enhanced and improved iteration of its Diamond diversity monitoring system, which is used across the UK television industry to measure representation on and off screen.
The new version of Diamond has been developed in partnership with the UK’s main broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Paramount, Sky, UKTV, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Lumo TV) following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK television sector including freelance cast and crew, production companies, post-production companies, PACT and other industry bodies.
The new iteration of Diamond will offer improvements for cast and crew inputting their diversity data, for production companies and for broadcasters, as well as offering enhanced data collection abilities, which will provide an even more comprehensive view of representation in UK television.
Individuals will now only have to fill in one diversity monitoring form which can be linked to future programmes rather than having to fill in multiple forms for different projects. There will be a new refreshed question set, and individuals will find it much simpler to edit and control their data to reflect any change of circumstance. The new system will also benefit from updated, state-of-the-art privacy and security to guarantee the highest levels of anonymity.
Production companies will benefit from a more streamlined, efficient system and for the first time, will be able to access consolidated Diamond reports to measure their own performance against industry benchmarks and use it to complete diversity information required by broadcasters, awards bodies, funders and other organisations.
Broadcasters will for the first time be able to analyse both linear and streaming contributions and will be better able to report on intersectionality – for example gender and race, or disability and socio-economic background. In future, broadcasters will also be able to carry out more in-depth longitudinal analysis measuring progression from entry level to more senior roles.
Diamond 2’s enhanced data collection will encompass a greater number of roles across a wider range of disciplines, and it will also gather nations and regions data to provide greater insight into representation UK-wide. The new system will also allow for future updates to reflect changes in the industry.
Diamond 2.0 will begin collecting data in July, with reporting using data gathered under the new system due to be issued in 2027. Until then, CDN will continue to report on data gathered under the existing Diamond data system.
Miranda Wayland, CEO, CDN said: “We are proud to be launching ‘Diamond 2.0’ at a critical moment for our industry. These enhancements are a response to what freelancers and production teams have told us they need: less duplication, greater control over their data, and confidence that their contributions are being counted properly and used responsibly.
“For the first time, production companies and broadcasters will be able to see a fuller, more nuanced picture of who is working in our industry, across roles, genres, nations, and regions, and across linear and streaming. This enables more meaningful analysis of progression, intersectionality, and long-term change, not just snapshots in time.
“Diamond 2.0 marks a step change in how we understand representation in UK television. It strengthens accountability, supports better decision-making, and helps ensure that talent from all backgrounds can enter, progress and thrive in our industry.”
Adam Smith, CEO, The Everyone Project added: “With ‘Diamond 1.0’, CDN led the way for diversity data in the screen sector inspiring, worldwide, organisations like ours who believe in evidence driven action to improve access, opportunities and performance. We’re hugely excited to be CDN’s technology partner of choice to grow ‘Diamond 2.0’ across the UK creative industries.”
Jon Creamer
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