MUMBAI: A multi-ethnic coalition has praised US TV networks for boosting the profile of Latino talent. On the flip side they still have a long way to go in terms of giving Asian Americans and Native Americans a fair representation

Each year American organisation The Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition issues a report card on how networks are representing minorities. This year the four major broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox all received A grades for their commitment to achieving racial diversity. Various pressure groups which have signed up to the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition gave their verdicts on how they perceived minority races to be represented.

Fox came out on top for its new Latino-based sitcom Luis and the forthcoming comedy The Ortegas. It scored a B-plus for its overall progression towards multi-ethnic diversity for all cultures, and an A for its portrayal of Latinos, who make up 14 per cent of the US population.

The Asian Pacific American Media Coalition gave a less positive view of the inclusion of Asian Pacific's actors. Although its head Karen Narasaki, praised the four networks with a "continuing commitment to trying to open up opportunities for minorities" she added that progress for Asian Pacific people had been slow.

"With the exception of NBC, the major networks have made almost no progress in providing greater opportunities for Asian Pacific American actorsThe problem of Asian and native Americans are that we're seen perpetually as foreigners." she said.

NBC has two Asian Pacific actors in leading or regular roles - Jodi Long on Miss Match and Lindsay Price on Coupling.