Philly 2014 Political Ad Trends Viewer


Trends Viewer: Philly Political Media Watch Project

Welcome to the interactive Trends Viewer tool designed to allow you to explore the data underlying the Philly Political Media Watch Project of the Internet Archive's TV News Archive! From September 1, 2014 through the election of November 4, 2014, 7 television stations in the Philadelphia market were monitored to identify all politically-related advertisements. In all, 74 distinct political advertisements were identified which collectively aired 13,675 times during the 65 day monitoring period. Each advertisement was assessed for time devoted to functional content, using the approach elaborated by William Benoit, Ph.D., most recently in his 2014 book, A Functional Analysis of Political Television Advertisements. Archive staff scored each ad along the dimensions of "Acclaim" (positive comments about candidate), "Attack" (negative comments about opposing candidate), and "Defend" (defending candidate against attacks by opposing candidate), along with typing up a transcript of its spoken content. A similar approach was taken by a team at the University of Delaware's Center for Community Research and Service lead by Associate Professor Danilo Yanich, in their study, Political Ads & Local TV News - Philly 2014.

Note that you will find some oddities in the data due to the way in which the human coding cataloged the advertisements. Each ad was categorized with the name of the primary candidate discussed, meaning that an attack ad run by one candidate against another will be cataloged under the second one's name, even if the other half of the advertisement lauds the candidate running the ad. This will yield nuanced results, such as comparing the ads focusing on Aimee Belgard vs those sponsored on her behalf.

This tool allows you to interactively explore and visualize the resulting trends (the raw datasets are also available for download). Using the form below, you can select any pair of candidates, parties, races, status, win/lost, sponsor, sponsor type, television channel, or even keywords found in the transcripts, or any combination therein, to compare their respective trends during the 2014 election cycle. If you specify multiple options they will be combined together. For example, you can compare ads focusing on Tom Corbett that were paid by Tom Corbett for Governor vs those paid for by Tom Wolf for Governor. Or, compare all ads mentioning the two candidates from any sponsor. Or ads focusing on candidates that ultimately won vs lost. Or, compare the ads run by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers vs those run by the House Majority PAC. Or, those mentioning "school" vs "job" in the transcript of the ad. Or, simply, view the overall trends for all 13,675 advertisement airings.

Search #1

Use the dropdowns below to select your first query.
You can select multiple options and they will be combined together.

Focal Candidate:
Focal Candidate Party:
Focal Candidate Status:
Focal Race:
Focal Candidate Outcome:
Ad Sponsor:
Ad Sponsor Type:
Television Channel:
Transcript Keyword:


Search #2

Use the dropdowns below to select your second query.
You can select multiple options and they will be combined together.

Focal Candidate:
Focal Candidate Party:
Focal Candidate Status:
Focal Race:
Focal Candidate Outcome:
Ad Sponsor:
Ad Sponsor Type:
Television Channel:
Transcript Keyword:

Select All Advertisements:





Summary Statistics

The four charts below offer a summary of overall trends. See the description under each graph for more detail on what it shows.



Total number of airings of all ads matching your queries

Total airtime of advertisements in minutes, broken down by the functional type expressed: Acclaim (praising the candidate), Attack (attacking the other candidate), or Defend (countering attacks made by the other candidate)



Total airtime (in minutes) of advertisements, broken down by television channel, making it possible to see where advertising time was focused and any differences in the kinds of ads run on each channel. Airtime is further broken down by the functional type expressed: Acclaim (praising the candidate), Attack (attacking the other candidate), or Defend (countering attacks made by the other candidate).



Total airtime (in minutes) of advertisements, broken down by the primary candidate focused on by the ad. An ad may mention multiple candidates, but it is cataloged under the focal candidate that was mentioned the most. Airtime is further broken down by the functional type expressed: Acclaim (praising the candidate), Attack (attacking the other candidate), or Defend (countering attacks made by the other candidate).



Total airtime (in minutes) of advertisements, broken down by the organization paying for the ad, making it possible to see who is paying for ads for/against a given candidate, etc. Airtime is further broken down by the functional type expressed: Acclaim (praising the candidate), Attack (attacking the other candidate), or Defend (countering attacks made by the other candidate).



Total airtime (in minutes) of advertising each candidate ran in shows starting during each hour, making it easy to see what times of day they targeted most heavily



Daily Timeline

The timeline below summarizes the total airtime of advertisements by day over the entire 65 day period, with results for "school" shown to the left of the center line and results for "job" shown to the right. Airtime is further broken down by the functional type expressed: Acclaim (praising the candidate), Attack (attacking the other candidate), or Defend (countering attacks made by the other candidate).




Ad Listing

The thumbnails below show all of the distinct advertisements matching your queries, ordered by how many times each was aired (see the number below each thumbnail). Click on any thumbnail to view a sample airing of that advertisement.

Advertisements Featuring "school"

Times Aired: 357
Times Aired: 290
Times Aired: 270
Times Aired: 266
Times Aired: 260
Times Aired: 188
Times Aired: 178
Times Aired: 159
Times Aired: 153
Times Aired: 135
Times Aired: 82
Times Aired: 71
Times Aired: 51
Times Aired: 41
Times Aired: 9

Advertisements Featuring "job"

Times Aired: 515
Times Aired: 500
Times Aired: 371
Times Aired: 357
Times Aired: 307
Times Aired: 293
Times Aired: 268
Times Aired: 246
Times Aired: 178
Times Aired: 153
Times Aired: 129
Times Aired: 114
Times Aired: 111
Times Aired: 87
Times Aired: 85
Times Aired: 85
Times Aired: 71
Times Aired: 58
Times Aired: 51
Times Aired: 46
Times Aired: 41
Times Aired: 32
Times Aired: 31
Times Aired: 15
Times Aired: 8
Times Aired: 3



Show Listing

The specific television shows that a candidate runs their ads during offers powerful insights into the target demographics being sought by each candidate. The tables below summarize the total number of airings of ads matching your criteria that were run during each television show over the 65 day period. For selected news programming, a preview link is provided to view a sample airing of one of the advertisements that ran during that show.

All Shows Featuring "school"

RankShowAiringsPreview
1Action News166View
2Good Day Philadelphia128View
3Today126View
4Good Morning America104View
5Eyewitness News at 687View
6Fox 29 News at 1075View
7NBC 10 News at 6pm67View
8NBC 10 News at 11p64View
9Eyewitness News at 1162View
10Action News at Ten on PHL1754View
11Family Feud54
12Eyewitness News at 552View
13Action News 600 PM52View
14CBS This Morning48View
15Fox 29 Morning News at 6a47View
16The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon46
17NBC 10 News at 5pm45View
18Jeopardy39
19NBC 10 News at 4pm36View
20Wheel of Fortune35
21FOX 29 News at Five34View
22Late Show With David Letterman34
23NBC 10 News Today at 600a34View
24Good Day Philadelphia at 933View
25Modern Family33
26Dr. Phil32
27The Ellen DeGeneres Show30
28Action News 530 PM29View
29Judge Judy29
30Extra26
31The Insider21
32Access Hollywood20
33Talk Philly18
34CBS This Morning Saturday16View
35NBC 10 News Today at 11a16View
36Eyewitness News at 8am16View
37Judge Mathis16
38Eyewitness News at 7am15View
39Rachael Ray15
40Action News at 4pm15View
41NBC 10 News at 9am15View
42Live With Kelly and Michael15
43NBC 10 News Today at 500a14View
44The Big Bang Theory14
45Lets Make a Deal14
46Action News Weekend 7AM13View
47Jimmy Kimmel Live13
48The Price Is Right13
49NBC Nightly News12View
50Fox 29 News at 6PM12View
51Action News Weekend12View
52NBC 10 News Today at 430a12View
53The Meredith Vieira Show12
54Despierta America12
55Early Today11View
56Eyewitness News at 53011View
57College Football11
58NBC 10 News Today at 530a10View
59Steve Harvey10
60The Doctors10
61The Good Wife9
62In Depth With Graham Bensinger9
63Action News 500 PM9View
64Entertainment Tonight9
65CBS News Sunday Morning9View
66Days of our Lives8
67NFL Football8
68The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson8
69Eyewitness News on the CW Philly8View
70The Voice7
71Dancing With the Stars7
72Shark Tank6
73Inside the Eagles6
74The Peoples Court6
75Animation Domination High-Def6
76Nightline6View
77NBC 10 News at 6am6View
78NBC 10 News at 530a6View
79Law Order Special Victims Unit6
80Face the Nation6View
81Two and a Half Men6
82Fox 29 Morning News at 4a6View
83Noticiero Univision5View
84Noticiero 65 Edicion Nocturna5View
85The Blacklist5
8660 Minutes5View
87Action News Weekend 6AM5View
88Football Night in America5
89Primer Impacto5View
90Madam Secretary5
91Noticias 655View
92NBC 10 News at 7am5View
93The View4
94Castle4
95The Young and the Restless4
96Blue Bloods4
97Eyewitness News at 6am4View
98Fox29 Sports Show4
99The Queen Latifah Show4
100Americas Got Talent4
101Fox Sports Sunday4
102The Dr. Oz Show3
103CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley3View
104Who Wants to Be a Millionaire3
105Fox29 Weekend3
106Scandal3
107Late Night With Seth Meyers3
108Seinfeld3
109NBC 10 News at 10am3View
110TMZ Live3
111Eye Opener3
112Dateline NBC3View
113FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace3View
114Fox 29 Morning News at 5a3View
115Eyewitness News Sunday3View
116Paid Programming3
117La Gata3
118Anger Management3
119NBC 10 High School Blitz3
120CSI Crime Scene Investigation3
121Sports Zone3
122NFL Thursday Night Kickoff3
123NCIS New Orleans3
124Dish Nation2
125Como Dice el Dicho2
126The Biggest Loser2
127NBC 10 News2View
128Inside Edition2
129Fox 29 Game Day Live2
130Inside Story2View
131Football Night in Philly2
132White Collar2
133Election 2014 In Focus2
134Meet the Press2View
135ABC World News Tonight With David Muir2View
13648 Hours2
137The Simpsons2
138Action News at 1130 P2View
139Hoy2
140The Talk2
141Action News 530 AM2View
142The Chew2
143Eyewitness News at 430am2View
144Saturday Night Live2
145The Bold and the Beautiful2
146Person of Interest2
147Under the Dome2
148Chasing1
149FOX NFL Sunday1
150The Mysteries of Laura1
151NASCAR Racing1
152The Office1
153NFL Kickoff 20141
154La Malquerida1
155Family Guy1
156The Secret Lives of Pets With Hoda Kotb1
157Eagles Game Day Kickoff1
158Chicago PD1
159Glee1
160The NFL Today1
161The OT1
162Fox29 Sports Sunday1
163Greys Anatomy1
164How to Get Away With Murder1
165Chicago Fire1
166Open House1
167Breakfast with the Candidates1
168Bones1
169Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen1
170The Amazing Race1
171The Mass1
172General Hospital1
173Hot Bench1
174PHL17s In Focus1
175Extant1
176The Better Show1
177Daytime Jeopardy1
178On the Money1
179Bachelor in Paradise1
180ABC World News Tonight1View
181American Ninja Warrior1
18220/201
183NBC 10 News at 5am1View
184Quiero Amarte1
185The Wendy Williams Show1

All Shows Featuring "job"

RankShowAiringsPreview
1Action News271View
2Good Day Philadelphia196View
3Today177View
4Eyewitness News at 6154View
5Good Morning America138View
6Action News at Ten on PHL17117View
7Eyewitness News at 5110View
8Eyewitness News at 1199View
9NBC 10 News at 5pm98View
10NBC 10 News at 6pm88View
11Fox 29 News at 1085View
12Jeopardy80
13NBC 10 News at 11p79View
14CBS This Morning75View
15Dr. Phil70
16Late Show With David Letterman68
17Judge Judy66
18Wheel of Fortune65
19The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon65
20NBC 10 News at 4pm63View
21Fox 29 Morning News at 6a62View
22Good Day Philadelphia at 962View
23The Ellen DeGeneres Show57
24Action News 600 PM56View
25Live With Kelly and Michael55
26Action News 530 PM48View
27FOX 29 News at Five48View
28NBC 10 News Today at 600a46View
29Access Hollywood44
30Action News at 4pm43View
31Rachael Ray43
32Talk Philly42
33The Insider41
34Extra37
35NBC Nightly News36View
36NBC 10 News Today at 11a33View
37Entertainment Tonight33
38The Doctors32
39Family Feud32
40Action News 500 PM32View
41Eyewitness News at 53030View
42Steve Harvey29
43Modern Family27
44The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson27
45Fox29 Weekend26
46Fox 29 News at 6PM25View
47The Dr. Oz Show22
48Lets Make a Deal21
49Jimmy Kimmel Live21
50The Meredith Vieira Show20
51The Price Is Right19
52Law Order Special Victims Unit19
53The Talk19
54Action News Weekend19View
55Judge Mathis18
56The Big Bang Theory18
57CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley18View
58The Peoples Court16
59NBC 10 News Today at 500a16View
60The View16
61Hot Bench15
62NBC 10 News at 9am15View
63ABC World News Tonight With David Muir15View
64NBC 10 News Today at 530a14View
65NBC 10 News at 6am14View
66Eyewitness News at 7am14View
67Chasing14
68College Football13
69Fox 29 Morning News at 5a13View
70NBC 10 News Today at 430a13View
71Despierta America12
72Inside Edition12
73CBS News Sunday Morning11View
74Eyewitness News on the CW Philly11View
75Eyewitness News at 430am11View
76The Voice11
77The Queen Latifah Show11
78Early Today11View
79Dish Nation11
80Eyewitness News at 8am10View
81NBC 10 News at 530a10View
82Action News Weekend 7AM10View
83The Young and the Restless10
84The Good Wife10
85CSI Crime Scene Investigation9
86CBS This Morning Saturday9View
87Mike Molly8
88Face the Nation8View
89Football Night in America8
90Fox 29 Morning News at 4a7View
91Fox Sports Sunday7
92Anger Management7
93TMZ Live7
94Nightline7View
95Two and a Half Men6
96Dancing With the Stars6
97Saturday Night Live6
98Madam Secretary6
99Eyewitness News at 6am6View
100The Simpsons6
101NBC 10 News at 10am6View
102Blue Bloods6
103NFL Football6
104Meet the Press6View
105Inside the Eagles6
106Person of Interest5
107Noticias 655View
10848 Hours5
109Primer Impacto5View
110Election 2014 In Focus5
111Who Wants to Be a Millionaire5
112Noticiero 65 Edicion Nocturna5View
113In Depth With Graham Bensinger5
114Noticiero Univision5View
115Fox 29 Game Day Live5
116Days of our Lives5
117Stalker5
118TMZ4
119The Wendy Williams Show4
120Daytime Jeopardy4
121Hawaii Five-04
122The Bold and the Beautiful4
123NBC 10 News at 7am4View
124Action News 530 AM4View
125Paid Programming4
126FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace4View
127Dateline NBC4View
128Late Night With Seth Meyers4
129Animation Domination High-Def4
130Inside Story4View
13160 Minutes4View
132The Blacklist4
133The Mysteries of Laura4
134Castle4
135The Office4
136NBC 10 News at 5am3View
137NCIS New Orleans3
138Sports Zone3
139General Hospital3
140Bones3
141La Gata3
142The Chew3
143This Week With George Stephanopoulos3View
144World Series Pregame3
145Chicago PD3
146Action News Weekend 6AM3View
147Eagles Game Day Kickoff3
148ABC World News Now3View
149Parenthood2
150The King of Queens2
151Gracepoint2
152The Better Show2
153NBC 10 High School Blitz2
154On the Money2
155Fox29 Sports Show2
156Survivor2
157Scorpion2
158FOX29 News at 112View
159Hoy2
160Chicago Fire2
161Football Night in Philly2
162OK TV2
163The NFL Today2
164White Collar2
165Shark Tank2
166Como Dice el Dicho2
167FOX NFL Sunday2
168Last Call With Carson Daly2
169A to Z1
170Americas Got Talent1
171ABC World News Tonight1View
172Quiero Amarte1
173NCIS Los Angeles1
174Jerry Springer1
175Supreme Justice With Judge Karen Mills1
176The Mass1
177Hells Kitchen1
178Philly Pheud1
179NFL Postgame1
180Celebrity Name Game1
181Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen1
182Constantine1
183The Walking Dead1
184Eyewitness News Sunday1View
185Forever1
186Red Band Society1
187Countdown to the CMA Awards 15 Songs That Changed Country Music1
188Maury1
189Criminal Minds1
190How to Get Away With Murder1
191Glee1
1922014 Breeders Cup1
193Eagles Game Plan1
194Cougar Town1
195How I Met Your Mother1
196Seinfeld1
197Inside Edition Weekend1
198Motorcycle Racing1
199FOX 29 News Special1View
200Scandal1
201Storm Stories1
202NBC 10 News1View
203Healthy Meals in Minutes1
204World of X Games1
205La Malquerida1
206The Biggest Loser1




The Philly Political Media Watch Project

See more information about this project.