Diversity (and SVODs) rise in latest Common Sense Seal honorees

SVOD leaders Netflix and Amazon joined PBS with the most recent Common Sense Seal TV honoree selections, while more new TV shows and specials are showcasing diversity.
April 19, 2017

US nonprofit Common Sense Media has announced its latest crop of Common Sense Seal honorees, which celebrates new TV series and specials that recognize quality family content featuring important themes, messages and role models. And key takeaways from the selections reveal a notable increase in diverse characters and plotlinesespecially among shows aimed at tweens and teens.

In fact, more than half of the 11 honorees in these demosincluding Amazon’s An American Girl Story: Ivy & Julie: A Happy Balance (pictured)feature racially diverse, female or LGBTQ leads, and all celebrate people’s differences.

Another significant trend is the rise of SVOD content and the decline of major network representation. Streaming giants Netflix and Amazon joined PBS with the most Seals earned (eight, six and six, respectively) in the spring honoree period, while broadcast network representation is at its lowest since the Common Sense Seal for TV program began in October 2015. (Disney Channel/Disney Junior racked up five, while Nickelodeon scored two and Cartoon Network picked up one.)

NBC’s Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors earned the only Seal for a major network this period.

The new list also reveals a gap in quality family content for teens with only one honoree, HBO’s The Trans List, targeting the demo. Content aimed at kids ages five to seven dominate the 35 new Seal honorees.

Common Sense Media determined the list by reviewing 224 television series and specials that premiered between November 2016 and March 2017.

Here are all 35 new Common Sense Seal for TV honorees grouped by network:

Elena and the Secret of Avalor (Disney) age five
Tangled: Before Ever After (Disney Channel) age five
Tangled (Disney Channel) age five
Andi Mack (Disney Channel) age 10
Kate in Oz (Disney Junior) age three

Odd Tube (PBS Kids) age five
Splash and Bubbles (PBS Kids) age three
Wild Kratts: Creatures of the Deep (PBS Kids) age seven
One Big Ocean (Splash and Bubbles TV movie) (PBS Kids) age three
Dinosaur Train: What’s at the Center of the Earth (PBS Kids) age three
Anne of Green Gables (PBS) age seven

Lost in Oz (Amazon) age six
An American Girl Story: Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas (Amazon) age eight
If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie (Amazon) age four
Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter (Amazon) age seven
An American Girl Story: Ivy & Julie: A Happy Balance (Amazon) age eight
The Snowy Day (Amazon) age four

Cirque du Soleil: Luna Petunia (Netflix) age three
White Rabbit Project (Netflix) age 12
We’re Lalaloopsy (Netflix) age five
Trollhunters (Netflix) age nine
One Day at a Time (Netflix) age 12
Legend Quest (Netflix) age seven
Veggietales in the City (Netflix) age five
Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix) age four

Albert (Nick) age five
Ride (Nick) age eight
Nella the Princess Knight (Nick Jr.) age three

Once Upon A Sesame Christmas (HBO) age four
The Trans List (HBO) age 14

Adventure Time: Islands (Cartoon Network) age nine

Mars (Nat Geo) age 12
Gender Revolution (Nat Geo) age 12

Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors (NBC) age seven

Planet Earth II (BBC America) age six

About The Author
Jeremy is the Features Editor of Kidscreen specializing in the content production, broadcasting and distribution aspects of the global children's entertainment industry. Contact Jeremy at jdickson@brunico.com.

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