[raccoonradio]

Though in 80 or so, long after TV went color, GOP was blue and Dems red

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/25/state-senators-response-to-second-amendment-advocate-at-gun-control-rally-will-make-your-jaw-drop/

(8:15 ET Reagan projected winner—had 270!)
“We will now be coloring these states now, in blue,
for Reagan”
A similar clip for the Reagan landslide described the electoral college map as “a swimming pool” blue for Reagan.
But yes some time after that you would hear the host say “We shall color this state Republican red”
(R-Red-Republican; Blue-Dem-blue collar?)

[Voice of Reason88]

Yes, that’s the way it used to be – example, look at this Oxford dictionary definition:

Definition of conservative
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/conservative?
2(in a political context) favouring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially conservative ideas.
• informal true blue

[arderkrag]

Yes, in 80. On some networks. Others, as mentioned in the link, had the colors the other way around. The next election cycle, many of a them reversed the pattern to avoid favoritism.