ABS-CBN, GMA claim top spot in ratings

MANILA, Philippines - Rivals ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. claimed to have dominated the ratings leadership for the month of January, surveys commissioner by both companies showed.

ABS-CBN said it started 2014 on a high note as more Filipinos across urban and rural households all over the country tuned in to its programs last January with an average national audience share of 44 percent compared to the 32 percent of GMA.

Based on data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN registered a 45 percent average audience share in all areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila while GMA booked a share of 36 percent.

It also edged GMA in the Visayas with share of 58 percent compared to GMA’s 23 percent as well as in Mindanao with 57 percent versus the 22 percent of GMA.

With ABS-CBN’s strong line-up of teleseryes, it maintained its primetime supremacy from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight with 48 percent compared to GMA’s 32 percent.

Overall, 13 out of the top 15 most watched programs nationwide in January were produced by ABS-CBN including “Honesto” (29.7 percent), “Wansapanataym” (28.6 percent), “Maalaala Mo Kaya (26.5 percent), “Bet On Your Baby” (25.4 percent), “Annaliza” (22.4 percebt), “Rated K” (18.7), “Be Careful With My Heart” (17.8 percent), “Goin Bulilit” (17.2 percent), and “Maria Mercedes” (15.9 percent).

In a separate statement, GMA said it established a strong start in the key areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila as it maintained dominance over rival networks in January, according to the industry’s leading ratings provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

GMA claimed that it consistently beat competition across all dayparts - morning, afternoon, and evening, which includes the hotly contested primetime slot in the said areas.

GMA said it registered a 35.5 percent average total day audience share in Urban Luzon, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 32.1 percent by 3.4 points and TV5’s 11.2 percent by 24.3 points.

The network scored top ratings in its bailiwick Mega Manila with a 36.4 percent average total day audience share, higher than ABS-CBN’s 29.4 percent by seven points, and TV5’s 12.2 percent by 24.2 points.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen reportedly has only 1,980 homes based solely in urban areas that represent only 57 percent of the Philippine TV viewing population.