Republicans love successful network television programs, while Democrats tend to skew towards hit offerings on cable. While there are exceptions to both of these generalities, plenty of examples exist demonstrating where the partisan divide rests on the television set at home.

 

According to an analysis by the media-research company Experian Simmons, viewers who identify themselves as Republican and vote conservative are more likely to watch shows like The Big Bang Theory (CBS), American Idol (Fox), and even the progressive Modern Family (ABC).

 

Democrats and liberals dominate the audiences of Mad Men and Breaking Bad (AMC), Damages (FX), Dexter (Showtime) and Entourage (HBO).

 

Again, Republicans do go for cable entertainment, like White Collar, Pawn Stars and American Chopper. And Democrats have been largely responsible for making 30 Rock the hit it is on NBC.

 

“The big shows with mass appeal tend to have above-average scores from Democrats and Republicans but with higher concentrations of Republicans,” John Fetto, senior marketing manager at Experian Simmons, told the Hollywood Reporter. “Looking at the Democrats side, I don’t mean to make light of it, but they seem to like shows about damaged people. Those are the kind of shows Republicans just stay away from.”

 

Among non-news shows, the most popular among Republicans are The Amazing Race, Modern Family and American Idol, while the most popular with Democrats are Mad Men, Dexter and Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

The Reign of Right-Wing Primetime (by James Hibberd, Hollywood Reporter)