ITV has announced plans to set aside £80 million of its content commissioning budget for the next three years to push change towards racial equity and disability equity.
Of this figure, around £20 million will be preserved for content made by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic-led (BAME) and disabled-led production companies.
The broadcasting company has also set up a new £500,000 development fund to produce ideas that will qualify for its Diversity Commissioning Fund.
To be eligible for the fund, developed in consultation with the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, productions must include Black, Asian or minority ethnic and/or disabled managing or creative directors.
If productions do not meet these criteria, they can otherwise qualify if they involve at least two individuals in senior creative decision-making roles or are depicting diverse stories.
Additionally, productions that pay at least 20% of their total salary spend on Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic and/or disabled creatives, will also be able to qualify.
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“ITV is committed to creating content by, with, and for everyone, connecting and reflecting modern audiences,” ITV group director of diversity Ade Rawcliffe said.
“With this reserve fund, we’re working to speed up progress in a sustainable way, and play our part to change the structure of the industry.”
The news comes as the BBC and Channel 4 also launched initiatives to drive lasting change across the sector.
ITV CEO Carolyn McCall added: “We want to keep up the momentum and drive more progress at ITV and across the industry, so that our audiences can see their broad range of experiences and perspectives reflected in our content.”
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