A study tested the utility of the viewing intention application of the transfer discrepancy model--a model attempting not only to identify the key program attributes that alter beliefs, but also to identify those that transfer this belief change into changes in viewer behavior. To promote cross-population examination, the study focused on network news. Data collection was accomplished by telephone interviews conducted with 80 adults in each of two cities. Findings suggested that respondents generally intended to watch network evening news programs whenever possible. Among the attributes that were shown to be associated with increases in intentions to view network nightly news were (1) the impact of the news on a viewer's life, (2) the notion that the news made viewers more knowledgeable about news events, (3) indepth coverage, (4) enjoyable newscasters, (5) variety of topics, (6) national news coverage, and (7) international news coverage. These results suggest that the viewing intention application provides a rather unique method for examining the crucial link between the importance a viewer accords a network television news attribute and how that viewer thinks the presence or absence of the attribute actually influences personal news viewing behavior. (HOD)