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CDN, which was set up with the aim of ensuring fair representation of the UK's ethnic population on screen and behind the camera, is backed by major UK broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, BSkyB, Channel 4 and Five.

Traditionally, the chair of the CDN has taken on the role for a year but, in a shift in policy, Shaps is to take the role for 2005 and 2006.

"I think this is an important change because it will help to reinforce the momentum of future improvements," Shaps said.

The network also highlighted its achievements over the past year. These include 13% of new recruits at the BBC from minority ethnic groups and the introduction of quotas of 12.5% of staff and 7% of management to be from ethnic minorities by the end of 2007. The corporation also launched 'Silver Street', the BBC Asian Network's first soap opera.

ITV has already made significant in-roads with 40% of its staff from ethnic minorities across all sites (11 regions including London) and the first ever Hindu wedding to be featured in a UK drama in 'Coronation Street'.

Channel 4 currently has 11.4% of all staff and 6% of senior staff from ethnic minorities, with those figures set to increase to 13% and 9% respectively by the end of 2006. Each commissioning genre now has a diversity representative to promote multicultural content and contributors in programmes

Sky lagged behind its terrestrial counterparts with only 8.2% of its workforce from ethnic minorities but had a higher proportion of 9% of ethnic minorities in senior management. Sky is preparing to roll out its new equal opportunities policy next year, alongside a new training scheme.

Other achievements include the launch of the northern branch of CDN along with a new online service for the entire network to improve ethnic minority representation on and off the air.

In addition, nine northern companies, including independent production companies, media training companies and television studios organisations are also working to improve the portrayal of ethnic minorities.

Other areas of focus include the sharing of non-commercially sensitive research on cultural diversity and sensitising broadcasters to support greater diversity in content and employment.

CDN includes the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB, Five, GMTV, ITN, SMG Television and TV producers body Pact. It was set up in 2000.

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