The guild has been on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since Nov. 5. The AMPTP broke off talks earlier this month and no new sessions have been scheduled.

The two sides are at odds on compensation for material distributed through new media such as the Internet.

"The American people overwhelmingly support the writers because they realize our cause is just and our proposal is fair: When we create valuable content for the companies we deserve to be paid," the WGA said in a statement on its Web site.

The USA Today/Gallup Poll also found 38 percent of prime-time viewers expect to watch less television.

"Ratings will continue to slide," the WGA predicted in its statement. "By refusing to negotiate with the writers, the media companies are now kicking their own customers out the door. That can't be good for business."

The AMPTP noted a survey by the marketing/research firm TNS found nearly two-thirds of Americans support neither side.

A statement issued by the alliance accused the writers of derailing the negotiations by "focusing on the jurisdictional issues at the expense of the core financial issues."

"One could only wonder how public attitudes towards the writers would be reflected if the public was asked how they feel about the writers making good on their organizer's quip to wreak havoc on the industry, especially in light of the severe economic harm being imposed on the Los Angeles region and, in particular, the below the line workers," the AMPTP statement said.