Satirical news program The Colbert Report did a better job of teaching viewers about the role of money in politics than actual news, a university study has found.

Researchers discovered that viewers who watched host Stephen Colbert set up a Super PAC (Political Action Committee) during the last election were better informed about campaign financing than viewers of dedicated news channels and programs.

Stephen Colbert has proven more informative than the news, a US university has found.

The study - conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenburg Public Policy Centre - tested the audiences of Colbert's popular Comedy Central show against those of network news bulletins; cable news channels such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox; and talk radio and newspapers.

It found The Colbert Report served as "an extended civics lesson", according to The Hollywood Reporter.