Nicole Reynolds's Project

My topic is what has allowed the recent increases in diversity representation (particularly for Asian Americans) in American television.

The major, unresolved question to be addressed is the following: What has driven ABC's to air Fresh Off the Boat?

What is known and generally accepted is that networks air shows that make money, increase viewership, and have good ratings.

Some of the major scholars believe that ABC's sole reason in airing Fresh off the Boat is that diverse shows are profitable and have better ratings. Others contest that ABC is simply trying to account for the diversity inherent in America already. Thus, there is debate about whether ABC's motive is profit or representation.

The narrowest possible description of my research question is as follows: Can the data show that America is becoming more diverse and that ABC is trying to represent that diversity, or will the data instead show that America has already been diverse, but diversity is now "selling" and more profitable than before.
Is ABC promoting more diverse programming because America is becoming more diverse or because more diverse programming makes more money?

The data I would like to collect is mainly demographic across the United States and television networks. I want to trace trends in American demographics, trends in the diversity in television networks, and trends in monetary expenditures in television. I believe that the data of diversity in America and in American television will provide some insight as to how this has affected (or not affected) trends in American television. I would also like to "follow the money" to see where this leads.

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