Report Shows Drop in Female Showrunners and Directors on Streaming Platforms
A new study from San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film found that women accounted for 24% of streaming show creators in the 2025-26 season, down from 36% the prior year. The percentage of female directors on streaming projects also fell to 22%, and female major characters declined to 44% on streaming and 46% on broadcast. The report's author noted that these figures are now lower than they were in 2017-18.
The study tracked over 2,500 characters and more than 3,600 behind-the-scenes credits across the 2025-26 television year. Broadcast platforms saw women creators dip slightly from 20 to 19 percent, while streaming fell from 36 to 24 percent. Director roles followed a similar pattern, with streaming dropping from 32 to 22 percent and broadcast from 18 to 16 percent.
The report also highlighted age disparities. Female speaking roles clustered in their 20s and 30s, with a sharp decline entering their 40s, while male characters maintained presence into their 50s. Lauzen noted that exceptions like Kathy Bates on Matlock and Jean Smart on Hacks remain rare. The study has tracked over 65,000 characters and 80,000 credits since 1997-98.
This decline could signal a broader industry retreat from inclusion commitments made after 2020, potentially affecting what stories get told and who tells them. Younger viewers consuming streaming content may internalize skewed gender norms, while women pursuing behind-the-scenes careers may face fewer opportunities. The age disparity findings could reinforce workplace perceptions that women's value diminishes with age, though the study's single-season snapshot may not capture longer-term trends.