Minorities are seeing more reflections of themselves on network television, but the progress is minimal, according to a new study from the research group Children Now.

After examining the first two episodes of each prime-time series on the major networks, the group found that whites make up an overwhelming 74 percent of all characters.

African Americans have grown in the past few years and now make up 16 percent of primetime characters, but Latinos and Asian Americans are stuck at 4 and 3 percent, respectively. Native Americans are practically nonexistent, at .2 percent, the study found.

"Over a three-year period, the networks have established a pattern in which their shows have become more segregated instead of more diverse," said Katharine Heintz-Knowles, who oversaw the study. "Overall, there are more characters of color on television, but they are grouped together on a smaller number of shows, resulting in fewer shows with people of color in prominent roles."

The lack of diversity during primetime TV became a hot-button issue in 2000, after media watchdog groups discovered that the Fall 1999 schedule of the big four networks – ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox – included only one minority character in a leading position. None of the 26 new shows featured an Asian American.

Despite the small increases in minority actors, stereotypes continue to be reinforced by TV writers, according to the study.

Minorities are much more likely than whites to be portrayed as service workers, unskilled laborers and criminals. White characters, on the other hand, are likely to be professionals.

C.S. Lee, a Los Angeles-based Asian-American actor, said he isn't surprised by the study's findings. 'There certainly isn't any Asian character who is pretty deep in character development. It's very lacking right now,' he said.

Even Margaret Cho's 'All American Girl,' the only sitcom to feature Asian Americans in all the leading roles, offered shallow portrayals of Asians, he said.

Despite being nicknamed the Family Hour, the 8 p.m. slot gives families little choice in what kinds of characters they want to see, according to the study. More worrisome to Children Now is that young people watch most of their TV shows during the 8 p.m. hour.

"We are dismayed to find that, despite stated commitments, there have been no significant improvements in on-screen diversity," said Patti Miller, director of Children Now's Children and the Media program. 'Research documents the importance of children seeing people like themselves on television. We urge the networks to meet the challenge of reflecting the real world on television.'

Lee, who has appeared in 'Law and Order' and 'Spin City,' said he is optimistic that opportunities for Asian-American actors will increase. 'I see it gradually changing. There are more Asian-American actors out there and, slowly, there are more parts creeping into the picture,' he said.

Before that can happen, though, there needs to be diversity behind the scenes, where the decisions are made.

'If there are no Asian writers to create Asian material, how can we hope to see Asian-American characters on screen?' he said. 'The new generation, beyond Generation X, is embracing diversity, so hopefully if a writer has an eclectic group of friends, he'll think of them when he's creating a new show.'

The bottom line is that Hollywood, like most business industries, is about the dollar. Until Asian Americans become studio owners and top TV executives, change won't be easy, Lee said.