Isaac Lee

Lee recently added the entertainment division to his workload, but he still oversees Univision’s news, digital content, and Fusion Media Group. While recognizing improvement with diversity in the industry, he says it’s still behind where it should be. “The area that is most desperately in need of real diversity is in news. The news on cable is incredibly white and male, with very little room for alternative voices that provide real diverse opinions,” Lee says. He cites Fusion’s “The Chris Gethard Show” and “The Democracy Handbook” as programs that embrace diversity. “Bassem Youssef brings a fresh outsider’s perspective to American politics at a time where Muslim voices are woefully absent. Muslims in the United States have never been more under threat, yet they have very few real voices on cable.”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
C+ The cable industry has improved in recent years but it is still way behind where it needs to be. The area that is most desperately in need of real diversity is in news. The news on cable is incredibly white and male, with very little room for alternative voices that provide real diverse opinions. The gains have come with some hit shows that have embraced real diversity such as “Jane the Virgin” and “Black-ish.” Shows that are high quality and also speak to real, authentic experiences that have previously been ignored.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
In the short term the capacity to deliver programmatic, targeted advertising to TV viewers in real time will certainly have an effect on the marketplace.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
If I may be biased, Fusion has a couple of shows that really embrace diversity. The first is “The Chris Gethard Show,” which is more like a giant party for weirdos and misfits of all backgrounds than a traditional Talk Show. Also, “The Democracy Handbook” with Bassem Youssef brings a fresh outsider’s perspective to American Politics at a time where Muslim voices are woefully absent. Muslims in the United States have never been more under threat, yet they have very few real voices on Cable. I also really love “Mr. Robot.” Sam Esmail, the show-runner is an Egyptian-American who cast Remi Malek, another Egyptian-American. It’s a good example of how when you embrace diversity at the top, they are more likely to give opportunities to others. But I also love the show because it brings a unique iconoclastic ethos that gives the show real edge. And that’s great!

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
We’re all in this together whether we like it or not. We may as well figure it out.