本文使用台灣各區每周收視率之資料,檢視新聞節目之政治傾向和正確度對消費 者選擇新聞節目的重要性。我們發現, 泛藍之新聞節目在泛藍比例較高地區的收 視率較高。此外, 我們發現在特殊政治事件發生時, 收視觀眾的政治偏好組成更 為極端化。這個結果除了並非來自於反向的因果關係, 更顯示出消費者傾向收看 與自己政治意識形態相近之新聞節目。最後, 本文使用兩個假新聞事件, 探討消 費者對新聞正確度的敏感度。我們發現假新聞事件對收視率的影響極小, 甚或不 顯著。

We use weekly audience ratings data from different regions in Taiwan to investigate the role of news slant and news accuracy in consumers, choices of TV news programs in Taiwan. We find that news programs leaning toward the Pan-Blue parties have more viewers from areas with more Pan-Blue supporters. Moreover, we find that consumers are more politically segregated in choosing news programs during political events than on ordinary days. The finding cannot be explained by reverse causality and suggests that consumers are inclined to watch news programs with a political ideology that approximates their own. Regarding consumer preferences for news accuracy, we examine changes in viewership caused by two well-known false news scandals involving reports that provided erroneous information. We find that the effects of these two incidents were either small or insignificant.