Webbo Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 At YouGov we do over 500,000 interviews a month, on topics ranging from brands to politics, movies to spending habits. We also have a burgeoning community of members exchanging views, ratings and reviews on our website. In all, it leads to a lot of connected data about a huge range of things. With the help of modern computing power and some clever algorithms, we are now starting to scan through that mountain of information and see what connections and correlations occur between otherwise unconnected things. Sometimes you can learn more observing people's tastes in other areas than asking them questions straight out. We've connected our political data with the huge volumes of ratings and reviews of TV programmes that YouGov members leave on the website every day, to produce a list for each of the three main parties of the top 100 shows that each group tends to like in particular. Suggestions are not limited to TV currently showing. The result gives a telling glimpse into the world view of each of the three main parties' quintessential voters. First up, the Conservatives. Looking at the top 100 programmes by genre, we see that 43 of them are dramas of some kind - compared to just 29 of the Labour list and 8 of the Liberal Democrats. This is a group who responds to straight depictions of life's big choices. But looking in more detail, you see that programmes that present a somewhat sepia-tinted vision of Britain's better days are high in the list: Downton Abbey, To the Manor Born, Foyle's War and Land Girls. It's also noticeable that TV talent shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor do particularly well with Tories - perhaps evidence of their relish for competition and celebration of talent rising to the top? Conservatives 1. Downton Abbey 2. Top Gear 3. To the Manor Born 4. Doc Martin 5. Spooks 6. Foyles War 7. Strictly Come Dancing 8. A Question of Sport 9. Men Behaving Badly 10. Hawaii Five-O Labour voters, by contrast, seem to respond to a much more earthy depiction of modern Britain. Throughout the Labour list are programmes that take a wry but affectionate look at life in Britain as it really is for ordinary people. Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, Coronation Street, The Office, The Royle Family - these are shows that both skewer and celebrate working people. Labour supporters 1. Peter Kays Phoenix Nights 2. Coronation Street 3. Father Ted 4. Never Mind the Buzzcocks 5. The Office 6. Mad Men 7. The Royle Family 8. Torchwood 9. The Wire 10. Frasier But once again it is the Liberal Democrats that have the strongest correlations - and therefore would seem to be most coherent as a type of person. The high number of Sci-Fi and supernatural programmes in the list (17 compares to just 2 for the Tories) has already been remarked on. But there are two more very striking features. The top three in the list - QI, Mock the Week and Have I got News for You - are all humorous and left-field takes on the 'real world'. Secondly, fully 50 per cent of the top 100 are comedies - compared to just 31 per cent of the Labour list and 16 per cent of the Conservative list. Many of them are comedies of a particularly surreal and kooky kind - Brass Eye, Spaced, the IT Crowd, Red Dwarf. Liberal Democrats 1. Have I Got News For You 2. Mock The Week 3. QI 4. Black Books 5. The IT Crowd 6. Brass Eye 7. Doctor Who 8. Red Dwarf 9. Futurama 10. Newswipe It seems that where both the Labour and Conservative parties appeal to the core voters with visions of Britain, albeit very different ones, the way to the Lib Dem heart may be to look elsewhere - to offer appealing visions of alternative futures and a left-field and humorous take on current affairs. In short, to boldly go where no man has gone before...
Webbo Posted 6 February 2014 Author Posted 6 February 2014 Well tories must be a dull bunch. I'd pick Foyle's War out of that bunch, I've never seen 3 of those programmes. My TV tastes seem to be more Labour (I feel dirty just saying that )
Captain... Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 Conservatives 2/10 Labour 5/10 Lib Dem 9/10 At least now I know who to vote for in the election...
purpleronnie Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 Guess it shows I'd pick Foyle's War out of that bunch, I've never seen 3 of those programmes. My TV tastes seem to be more Labour (I feel dirty just saying that ) Come on over webbo.
Carl the Llama Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 I must be a Lib Dem, enjoy all 10 of their list compared to 5 from the other two added together.
ScouseFox Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 I'd never considered which political party I would "support" but I love some Corrie. Labour all the way from now. ps. Downton Abbey is shit.
Finnegan Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 So much awful TV there but given 21CF, myself and Matt all watch the same shows I think we can conclude it's bollocks.
Guest MattP Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 I'd pick Foyle's War out of that bunch, I've never seen 3 of those programmes. My TV tastes seem to be more Labour (I feel dirty just saying that ) Same, and Lib Dem for me Got my doubts on this mind, no way would X Factor not be top of the Labour list, everyone I know who votes for them loves it.
DennisNedry Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 Conservatives 2/10 Top Gear A Question of Sport Labour supporters 2/10 Father Ted Frasier Liberal Democrats 5/10 Mock The Week QI The IT Crowd Red Dwarf Futurama This is bollocks isn't it really, I'm very right wing but according to this list I'm a liberal.
Rincewind Posted 6 February 2014 Posted 6 February 2014 Conservatives 2/10 Top Gear A Question of Sport Labour supporters 2/10 Father Ted Frasier Liberal Democrats 5/10 Mock The Week QI The IT Crowd Red Dwarf Futurama This is bollocks isn't it really, I'm very right wing but according to this list I'm a liberal. well they joined the tories. (Clegg anyway)
Guest Posted 7 February 2014 Posted 7 February 2014 cons 2 Lab 2 Lib 5 So I guess it's people who have alternate political taste or none at all (or SNP) who Watch all the crappy reality tv shows. I think the cons and Lab top ten are pretty depressing reading tbh.
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