Ratings of the country's largest terrestrial channels, FTV and CTV, are reported to have fallen sharply as Taiwanese viewers flocked to non-stop news channels to watch the unfolding political drama.
Cable news channels TVBS and Sanli were the main beneficiaries, both gaining double-digit viewer ratings increases.
Outdoor media owners have been unaffected, as advertisers have made them reluctant to take posters down and pay cancellation fees.
One media agency said that advertisers have been happy to gain exposure from international news coverage.
International retailers are said to be the most affected advertising category. Protests in downtown Taipei have swamped the capital's department stores, discouraging weekend shoppers. Eighty per cent of retailer revenues are made over the weekend, and media agencies predict ad spend could suffer as a result.
Consumer confidence is also causing concern. "The Taiwanese people's confidence in the state machine, economics and the future is falling every day," said Sean Chang, managing director, OMD Taiwan.
"The consumer price index is rising and GDP has been revised down every quarter. As consumers become more conservative, marketers are more likely to pull out or shrink their spend."
Meanwhile, it is expected that TV ratings will soon return to familiar levels and distribution between channels.
"People are bored of the same news," said Winnie Juang, general manager of MediaCompany Taiwan. "TV ratings will re-balance."
