Oprah Remains America's Favorite TV Personality, According to Harris Poll
December 24 2003 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Oprah Remains America's Favorite TV Personality, According to
Harris Poll David Letterman (#2), Bill O'Reilly (#3), Ray Romano
(#4) and Jay Leno (#5) take the next four places ROCHESTER, N.Y.,
Dec. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- At the end of every year since 1993, the
Harris Poll has asked Americans to name their favorite TV
personalities. In this year's survey, Oprah Winfrey retains the
number-one position she held last year. In the eleven years that
Harris Interactive has conducted this survey, Oprah has always been
one of the top-three favorites. This is the fourth time she has
been number one; she also topped the list in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
David Letterman who achieved his best-ever ranking last year at #3,
moves up to #2. But his rise is relatively gradual compared to that
of Bill O'Reilly of Fox News, who came onto the list for the first
time in 2001 at #7, rose to #5 last year and jumps up to #3 now.
Fourth place is taken by Ray Romano, who drops down from the #2
position last year. Jay Leno is #5, up from #9 last year; this is
his best showing ever, although he held the #6 position in 1998 and
2001. These are the results of a nationwide survey conducted online
by Harris Interactive among a nationwide sample of 1,109 adults
between November 17 and 21, 2003. Other TV personalities who make
it into the top-ten list this year are: * Dr. Phil McGraw, talk
show host and Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show on Comedy
Central, who are tied at #6. * William Petersen, of the TV series
drama, CSI (Crime Scene Investigation), who comes onto the list for
the first time at #8. * Whoopi Goldberg at #9. * Jennifer Aniston
(who was #6 last year), Ellen DeGeneres and Martin Sheen who are
all equal at #10. The three people who dropped off the list this
year are all involved in news programs: Katie Couric (#4 in 2002),
Tom Brokaw (was #8) and Dan Rather (was #10). While Oprah Winfrey
is tops with women, with whites and blacks, David Letterman is #1
among men. Among viewers ages 18-29, the choice is different; Jon
Stewart, Jennifer Aniston, Conan O'Brien and Homer Simpson all
share first place. There are also big differences among those of
different political views. While Oprah Winfrey is tops with
Democrats, Bill O'Reilly is the favorite among Republicans, and
Independents pick Jay Leno. 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 Oprah Winfrey 2 2 3 3 3 1 2 1 3
1 1 David Letterman 6 6 4 5 7 * * 6 4 3 2 Bill O'Reilly * * * * * *
* * 7 5 3 Ray Romano * * * * * * * =7 5 2 4 Jay Leno * 8 10 =10 8
=6 * =7 6 9 5 Dr. Phil McGraw * * * * * * * * * 7 =6 Jon Stewart *
* * * * * * * * * =6 William Peterson * * * * * * * * * * 8 Whoopi
Goldberg * * * * * * * * * * 9 Jennifer Aniston * * * * * * 6 * * 6
=10 Ellen DeGeneres * * * * * * * * * * =10 Martin Sheen * * * * *
* * * * * =10 * The 2002 survey was conducted in January 2003.
FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS AMONG: 2003 Men
David Letterman Women Oprah Winfrey Age 18-29 Jon Stewart, Jennifer
Aniston, Conan O'Brien, Homer Simpson Age 65+ Bill O'Reilly White
Oprah Winfrey African-American Oprah Winfrey Hispanic Ellen
DeGeneres Republicans Bill O'Reilly Democrats Oprah Winfrey
Independents Jay Leno DROPPED OUT OF TOP TEN THIS YEAR Rank in 2002
Katie Couric #4 Tom Brokaw #8 Dan Rather #10 Methodology The Harris
Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between
November 17 and 23, 2003 among a nationwide cross section of 2,376
adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education and number of adults
in the household 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 statistical precision of plus or minus three percentage
points of what they would be if the entire 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
(non-response), question wording and question order, and weighting.
It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these
factors. This online survey is not a probability sample. These
statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls. About Harris Interactive(R) Harris
Interactive (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/) is a worldwide
market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris
Poll(R), and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct
scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in
Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris Interactive combines
proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in
predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts
international research through wholly owned
subsidiaries-London-based HI Europe (http://www.hieurope.com/) and
Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan-as well as through the Harris
Interactive Global Network of local market- and opinion-research
firms, and various U.S. offices. EOE M/F/D/V To become a member of
the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to participate in future
online surveys, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com/. DATASOURCE:
Harris Interactive CONTACT: Nancy Wong of Harris Interactive,
+1-585-214-7316, or Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/
http://www.harrispollonline.com/ http://www.hieurope.com/
Copyright