For Fourth Consecutive Year, Oprah is America's Top Favorite TV Personality

For Fourth Consecutive Year, Oprah is America's Top Favorite TV Personality

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.

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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

CONTACT: Jennifer Cummings of Harris Interactive, +1-585-214-7720

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/

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