Cable diversity is not where it should be, but it's getting better. That's the consensus we got from cable executives when we asked them about workplace diversity.

That viewpoint is reflected in our Top 50 Most Influential Minorities in Cable list, which is dominated by programming executives. By all accounts, programmers have more people of color in higher positions than operators. Take a look at the top 10, and you'll see people of color who run companies (Dick Parsons and Al Liggins), networks (Christina Norman, Johnathan Rodgers, Debra Lee, Laureen Ong and Ray Rodriguez) and head up important divisions (Manish Jha, Herb Scannell and Albert Cheng).

Still, judging by the high quality of MSO executives in the top 20, senior operator ranks are becoming more diverse, as well.

We've done a few things differently with this list. For the first time, we ranked the executives, from 1 to 50. We also included an unranked list of 50 more executives who are knocking at the door.

1. Richard Parsons

chairman and CEO, Time Warner

Earlier this year Institutional Investor magazine named Parsons the top CEO in the entertainment industry, and for good reason. The jazz-loving, vineyard-owning Parsons is a highly regarded consensus builder who has streamlined and revived Time Warner.

2. Christina Norman

president, MTV

The top programmer on our list, Norman was promoted in May to president of the most powerful youth-oriented brand on the planet. This followed her stellar run overseeing VH1. She's also increasing diversity by spearheading MTV World's stable of ethnic-targeted networks.

3. Manish Jha

SVP, ESPN Mobile, president, NAMIC

Jha's soft-spoken demeanor belies a razor-sharp business acumen. He'll rely on both as he leads NAMIC and the content and operations sides of Bristol's worldwide wireless business, which next year plans to launch the first U.S. wireless phone service targeted at sports fans.

4. Johnathan Rodgers

president/CEO,TV One

Al Liggins

chairman, TV One

One of the most respected executives in cable, Rodgers' long track record is a key reason this duo is so high on the list. Add in that TV One gained so many subs this year (it's in 21-plus million homes) and its deals with Time Warner Cable and DirecTV, and you see why these two will remain on the list for years to come.

5. Debra Lee

president/COO, BET

As BET marks 25 years, the channel's leadership is passing from founder/chairman Bob Johnson to Lee, who recruited highly regarded filmmaker Reginald Hudlin to be programming chief last month. Now the network is ready to produce more ambitious content and generate a higher industry profile.

6. Laureen Ong

president, National Geographic Channel

One of cable's funniest execs, the indefatigable Ong is leading a ratings and growth success story. National Geographic's reach is 55 million homes as it readies an HD launch on its fifth birthday in January. Its reputation for hard- hitting storytelling was enhanced by its four-part review of 9/11 in August.

7. Herb Scannell

president, MTV Networks Group

Scannell broke a racial barrier years ago--not just at Viacom but within cable when he took the helm of Nickelodeon in 1996. Diversity on camera and behind the scenes has increased at MTVN on his watch, during which the Hispanic- themed Dora the Explorer cartoon became a household name.

8. Albert Cheng

SVP, bus. strategy and devel., ESPN

Disney doesn't just value ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing's Cheng as its highest ranked minority (which he is) but also for his "televisionary" insights into the direction of its content across platforms and emerging media. As such, he has the ear (and respect) of Anne Sweeney and George Bodenheimer.

9. Ray Rodriguez

president/COO, Univision Comm.

With more contenders than ever in the Spanish-language-channel universe, Univision remains the medium's kingpin under Rodriguez. Galavision, which turned 25 last year, continues to be the top-rated Spanish cable net, and is bringing back domestically produced programming this fall, led by interactive hour Access Maximo (All Access).

10. Henry Ahn

SVP, affiliate sales, NBC Universal Cable

A few years back, then-NBC Cable chief and grad school professor David Zaslav was so impressed with student Henry Ahn that he offered him a job. Good choice. Recently promoted, Ahn's one of Zaslav's top lieutenants, overseeing the field sales team and handling Olympics distribution deals, among other things.

11. Doug Gaston

SVP/general counsel, Comcast

Called the "cream of the minorities in the cable legal brain trust" by D.C. cable veteran Frank Lloyd, Gaston has become known mostly for his behind- the-scenes work. As the principal legal counsel to Comcast's senior management (and the only African-American general counsel at an MSO), he has emerged as one of the highest-ranked minorities among all the MSOs.