Majority of top-10 list comprised of talk show hosts
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- As we've done at the end of each
year since 1993, The Harris Poll(R) has asked U.S. adults to name their
favorite TV personalities. For the fourth consecutive year, Oprah Winfrey
captures the number-one position. In the 12 years that Harris Interactive(R)
has conducted this survey, Oprah has always been one of the top-three
favorites. In fact, this is the sixth time she has been number one; in
addition to this year, she topped the list in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Jon Stewart continues his rise to the top as he and David Letterman swap
places this year; Stewart comes in at No. 2, while Letterman drops one spot to
No. 3. Leno may consistently beat Letterman in the ratings game, but here the
opposite is true. Leno is tied for No. 4 with Fox News talk show host Bill
O'Reilly, who was No. 8 last year. Ellen DeGeneres moves up one spot from No.
7 last year to No. 6 this year.
These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 960 U.S. adults
surveyed online between December 8 and 14, 2005 by Harris Interactive(R).
There are four new TV personalities who made it into the top-10 list this
year, two for the first time and two from years past:
-- Conan O'Brien jumps onto the list for the first time at No. 7, while
George Lopez debuts at No. 9.
-- Jerry Seinfeld makes a return to the list this year at No. 8. He was
last on the list in 2000, but the recent release of his show on DVD may
have spurred his return.
-- Another sitcom star, Tim Allen, makes a return to the list. He last
appeared in 1999 at No. 7; this year he returns at No. 10.
The four people who dropped off the list this year are Ray Romano (was No.
4 last year), Bill Cosby (was No. 6), Dr. Phil McGraw (was tied for No. 9) and
Regis Philbin (was tied for No. 9).
While Oprah Winfrey is tops with women and adults aged 65 and over, David
Letterman is No. 1 for men. Among adults aged 18 to 24, who are an important
demographic to advertisers, Conan O'Brien is the most popular. Not
surprisingly, Bill O'Reilly is tops among conservatives, while liberals choose
Jon Stewart as their favorite.
TABLE 1
FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY
"Who is your favorite TV personality?"
Base: All adults
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002* 2003 2004 2005
Oprah
Winfrey 2 2 3 3 3 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1
Jon
Stewart -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- =6 =2 2
David
Letterman 6 6 4 5 7 -- -- 6 4 3 2 =2 3
Jay Leno -- 8 10 =10 8 =6 -- =7 6 9 5 5 =4
Bill
O'Reilly -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7 5 3 8 =4
Ellen
DeGeneres -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- =10 7 6
Conan
O'Brien -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7
Jerry
Seinfeld 4 3 2 1 1 2 4 4 -- -- -- -- 8
George
Lopez -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 9
Tim Allen 1 1 1 2 2 3 7 -- -- -- -- -- 10
* The 2002 survey was conducted in January 2003.
= means there was a tie for that position
TABLE 2
FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS
AMONG: 2005
Men David Letterman
Women Oprah Winfrey
Aged 18-24 Conan O'Brien
Aged 30-39 Bill O'Reilly
Aged 65+ Oprah Winfrey
Conservatives Bill O'Reilly
Liberals Jon Stewart
Moderates Oprah Winfrey
Methodology
The Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between
December 8 and 14, 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 960 adults (aged
18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household
income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual
proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to
adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95
percent certainty that the results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3
percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. adult population
had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other
possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more
serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals
to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording, question order, and
weighting. It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these
factors. This online sample is not a probability sample.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.
J26225
Q875
The Harris Poll(R) #12, February 3, 2006
By Regina Corso, research director, Issues and Industry Research, Harris
Interactive.
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), based in
Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market
research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for
its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long
recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident
business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research with
the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable
and enduring value.
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States,
Europe (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its
wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (http://www.novatris.com),
and through an independent global network of affiliate market research
companies. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, go to http://www.harrispollonline.com.
Press Contact:
Jennifer Cummings
Harris Interactive
585-214-7720
Harris Interactive Inc. 2/06
SOURCE Harris Interactive
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Related links:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com
CONTACT:
Jennifer Cummings of Harris Interactive,
+1-585-214-7720
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