What Television Shows You Watch Offers Political Clues

The LaTimes is reporting on this little Nielsen study that matches television viewing preferences to political preferences.

Nielsen does this by measuring what it calls “engagement.” Researchers ask a scientific sampling of people about the content oSouth Park charactersf their favorite programs (sports excluded).

Those who know the most about a cable program are deemed more “engaged.”

These results are then matched with each individual’s self-reported political affiliation or independence.

The results from Nielsen:

Cable Series:
Highest Bipartisan Engagement		 Network Cable Series:
Highest Republican Engagement		 Network Cable Series:
Highest Democrat Engagement		 Network
The Cleaner A&E South Park COMEDY The Colbert Report COMEDY
Real Housewives of Orange County BRAVO Cash Cab DSC Deadliest Catch DSC
The Next Food Network Star FOOD Damages FX Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia FX
HGTV Design Star HGTV Battle 360 HISTORY Ax Men HISTORY
Army Wives LIFE Doctor Who SCIFI Tin Man SCIFI
The Hills MTV The Bill Engval Show TBS My Boys TBS
What Not to Wear TLC Rock of Love With Bret Michaels VH1 I Love New York VH1
Saving Grace TNT
In Plain Sight USA
Source: The Nielsen Company (2008).
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  • Aunt Bertha

    I have only seen 3 of these shows, South Park, Cash Cab and What not to wear. 2 out of 3 when are all these shows on?

  • Barnstorm

    I watch one from each category (I’ve always been a closet bi-partisan).
    One thing that crossed my mind however. A brief look at all of those shows highlights not only what’s wrong with modern politics, but what’s wrong with us as a nation.
    And to top it all off, we need another $#%&@ poll to tell us how we think.
    As I put on Bruce’s “57 channels and nothing on”, I realize why I have mostly given up watching television and seek answers in the holy internet. Uh oh.

  • #28

    I used to watch South Park the first few years.

    I’ll catch the Col-bare Repore seldom.

    I couldn’t stand to watch any of the other shows listed.

    I guess Neilsen doesn’t know I own a TV, shop and pay taxes.

    But who cares whether the study has any merit, as long as they spend this year’s money to get next year’s budget in line.