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
10Family Feud54
11Action News at Ten on PHL1754View
12Action News 600 PM52View
13Eyewitness News at 552View
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
21Late Show With David Letterman34
22FOX 29 News at Five34View
23NBC 10 News Today at 600a34View
24Good Day Philadelphia at 933View
25Modern Family33
26Dr. Phil32
27The Ellen DeGeneres Show30
28Judge Judy29
29Action News 530 PM29View
30Extra26
31The Insider21
32Access Hollywood20
33Talk Philly18
34Eyewitness News at 8am16View
35Judge Mathis16
36NBC 10 News Today at 11a16View
37CBS This Morning Saturday16View
38Live With Kelly and Michael15
39Rachael Ray15
40Action News at 4pm15View
41NBC 10 News at 9am15View
42Eyewitness News at 7am15View
43Lets Make a Deal14
44NBC 10 News Today at 500a14View
45The Big Bang Theory14
46Jimmy Kimmel Live13
47The Price Is Right13
48Action News Weekend 7AM13View
49NBC Nightly News12View
50NBC 10 News Today at 430a12View
51Action News Weekend12View
52Fox 29 News at 6PM12View
53Despierta America12
54The Meredith Vieira Show12
55College Football11
56Early Today11View
57Eyewitness News at 53011View
58Steve Harvey10
59The Doctors10
60NBC 10 News Today at 530a10View
61In Depth With Graham Bensinger9
62Entertainment Tonight9
63Action News 500 PM9View
64The Good Wife9
65CBS News Sunday Morning9View
66Eyewitness News on the CW Philly8View
67NFL Football8
68Days of our Lives8
69The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson8
70The Voice7
71Dancing With the Stars7
72Inside the Eagles6
73NBC 10 News at 6am6View
74Nightline6View
75Two and a Half Men6
76Animation Domination High-Def6
77The Peoples Court6
78NBC 10 News at 530a6View
79Shark Tank6
80Law Order Special Victims Unit6
81Face the Nation6View
82Fox 29 Morning News at 4a6View
83Noticiero 65 Edicion Nocturna5View
84The Blacklist5
85Football Night in America5
86NBC 10 News at 7am5View
87Noticiero Univision5View
8860 Minutes5View
89Action News Weekend 6AM5View
90Noticias 655View
91Primer Impacto5View
92Madam Secretary5
93Americas Got Talent4
94The View4
95The Young and the Restless4
96Blue Bloods4
97Fox29 Sports Show4
98Castle4
99Fox Sports Sunday4
100The Queen Latifah Show4
101Eyewitness News at 6am4View
102Late Night With Seth Meyers3
103TMZ Live3
104Fox 29 Morning News at 5a3View
105Anger Management3
106Sports Zone3
107NFL Thursday Night Kickoff3
108La Gata3
109NBC 10 High School Blitz3
110Fox29 Weekend3
111Dateline NBC3View
112Eyewitness News Sunday3View
113Scandal3
114Paid Programming3
115The Dr. Oz Show3
116CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley3View
117Seinfeld3
118CSI Crime Scene Investigation3
119NCIS New Orleans3
120Who Wants to Be a Millionaire3
121FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace3View
122NBC 10 News at 10am3View
123Eye Opener3
124Eyewitness News at 430am2View
125Dish Nation2
126Fox 29 Game Day Live2
127The Simpsons2
128Person of Interest2
129Meet the Press2View
130Hoy2
131Football Night in Philly2
132Saturday Night Live2
133ABC World News Tonight With David Muir2View
134The Chew2
135The Talk2
136The Biggest Loser2
137Action News 530 AM2View
138The Bold and the Beautiful2
139NBC 10 News2View
14048 Hours2
141White Collar2
142Inside Story2View
143Action News at 1130 P2View
144Election 2014 In Focus2
145Inside Edition2
146Como Dice el Dicho2
147Under the Dome2
148Daytime Jeopardy1
149Family Guy1
150La Malquerida1
151Bones1
152Hot Bench1
153The NFL Today1
154The Secret Lives of Pets With Hoda Kotb1
155American Ninja Warrior1
156General Hospital1
157FOX NFL Sunday1
158The Mass1
159Chicago PD1
160The Better Show1
161The Office1
162How to Get Away With Murder1
163PHL17s In Focus1
164On the Money1
165Chicago Fire1
166Breakfast with the Candidates1
167Quiero Amarte1
168The OT1
169ABC World News Tonight1View
170The Amazing Race1
171The Wendy Williams Show1
172The Mysteries of Laura1
173NFL Kickoff 20141
174Fox29 Sports Sunday1
175Chasing1
17620/201
177Extant1
178NBC 10 News at 5am1View
179Eagles Game Day Kickoff1
180Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen1
181Open House1
182NASCAR Racing1
183Glee1
184Bachelor in Paradise1
185Greys Anatomy1

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
21Good Day Philadelphia at 962View
22Fox 29 Morning News at 6a62View
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
38Action News 500 PM32View
39The Doctors32
40Family Feud32
41Eyewitness News at 53030View
42Steve Harvey29
43The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson27
44Modern Family27
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
55The Big Bang Theory18
56CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley18View
57Judge Mathis18
58The Peoples Court16
59NBC 10 News Today at 500a16View
60The View16
61ABC World News Tonight With David Muir15View
62NBC 10 News at 9am15View
63Hot Bench15
64Chasing14
65Eyewitness News at 7am14View
66NBC 10 News Today at 530a14View
67NBC 10 News at 6am14View
68NBC 10 News Today at 430a13View
69Fox 29 Morning News at 5a13View
70College Football13
71Inside Edition12
72Despierta America12
73The Queen Latifah Show11
74CBS News Sunday Morning11View
75Early Today11View
76The Voice11
77Eyewitness News at 430am11View
78Eyewitness News on the CW Philly11View
79Dish Nation11
80Action News Weekend 7AM10View
81The Good Wife10
82NBC 10 News at 530a10View
83Eyewitness News at 8am10View
84The Young and the Restless10
85CBS This Morning Saturday9View
86CSI Crime Scene Investigation9
87Face the Nation8View
88Mike Molly8
89Football Night in America8
90Fox 29 Morning News at 4a7View
91Fox Sports Sunday7
92TMZ Live7
93Anger Management7
94Nightline7View
95NBC 10 News at 10am6View
96Eyewitness News at 6am6View
97Madam Secretary6
98The Simpsons6
99Two and a Half Men6
100Meet the Press6View
101Dancing With the Stars6
102NFL Football6
103Saturday Night Live6
104Blue Bloods6
105Inside the Eagles6
106Noticias 655View
107Who Wants to Be a Millionaire5
108Primer Impacto5View
109Election 2014 In Focus5
110Days of our Lives5
11148 Hours5
112Fox 29 Game Day Live5
113Person of Interest5
114Stalker5
115Noticiero Univision5View
116Noticiero 65 Edicion Nocturna5View
117In Depth With Graham Bensinger5
118Hawaii Five-04
119Inside Story4View
120FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace4View
121The Wendy Williams Show4
122The Mysteries of Laura4
123Action News 530 AM4View
12460 Minutes4View
125The Bold and the Beautiful4
126Castle4
127NBC 10 News at 7am4View
128TMZ4
129Dateline NBC4View
130The Office4
131Paid Programming4
132Animation Domination High-Def4
133Daytime Jeopardy4
134Late Night With Seth Meyers4
135The Blacklist4
136World Series Pregame3
137NBC 10 News at 5am3View
138Eagles Game Day Kickoff3
139The Chew3
140NCIS New Orleans3
141Action News Weekend 6AM3View
142ABC World News Now3View
143General Hospital3
144La Gata3
145Chicago PD3
146This Week With George Stephanopoulos3View
147Bones3
148Sports Zone3
149White Collar2
150Shark Tank2
151Survivor2
152Last Call With Carson Daly2
153Como Dice el Dicho2
154Scorpion2
155Parenthood2
156The King of Queens2
157FOX NFL Sunday2
158Fox29 Sports Show2
159NBC 10 High School Blitz2
160The Better Show2
161Hoy2
162Gracepoint2
163Football Night in Philly2
164On the Money2
165Chicago Fire2
166OK TV2
167The NFL Today2
168FOX29 News at 112View
169Forever1
170Eagles Game Plan1
171Criminal Minds1
172Celebrity Name Game1
173Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen1
174Glee1
175Supreme Justice With Judge Karen Mills1
176Seinfeld1
177Quiero Amarte1
178ABC World News Tonight1View
179The Biggest Loser1
180Jerry Springer1
181Healthy Meals in Minutes1
182NFL Postgame1
183Philly Pheud1
184Motorcycle Racing1
185NBC 10 News1View
186Storm Stories1
187The Mass1
188Cougar Town1
189The Walking Dead1
190Eyewitness News Sunday1View
191Scandal1
192How to Get Away With Murder1
193World of X Games1
194Constantine1
195Countdown to the CMA Awards 15 Songs That Changed Country Music1
196Americas Got Talent1
197La Malquerida1
198Inside Edition Weekend1
199Red Band Society1
200A to Z1
201Maury1
202NCIS Los Angeles1
203Hells Kitchen1
204FOX 29 News Special1View
205How I Met Your Mother1
2062014 Breeders Cup1




The Philly Political Media Watch Project

See more information about this project.