NEW YORK – Nine gay characters are depicted in network-TV series scheduled for the 2006-07 season, a decrease from last year’s 10, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said Monday.

Out of 679 series lead or supporting characters on the six major broadcast networks in the new season, roughly 1.3 percent are gay, lesbian or bisexual, according to the group’s annual study. The figure last year was 1.4 percent.

GLAAD analyzed the 95 prime-time comedies and dramas announced by ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, CW and MyNetworkTV.

While the year-to-year numbers are relatively consistent, the prominence of the roles has diminished, GLAAD found, with the exit of “Will & Grace,” “Out of Practice” and “Crumbs.”

The nine gay or lesbian characters appear on eight different series.

New series GLAAD counted as “inclusive” include comedies “Help Me Help You” (ABC) and “The Class” (CBS), and dramas “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC), weeknight telenovela “Fashion House” (MyNetworkTV) and CW midseason entry “Hidden Palms.” These join comedies “Desperate Housewives” (ABC) and “The Office” (NBC), as well as the drama “ER” (NBC).