ABS-CBN presents witness in ratings case vs AGB Nielsen

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. yesterday presented to the media its star witness who accused GMA Network Inc. of being the brains behind the alleged manipulation of television ratings in Bacolod City.

ABS-CBN’s informant Mark Dumago said he, along with six other individuals, was hired to bribe metered households in Bacolod to watch rival network GMA Channel 7 shows in exchange for monthly prizes including P500 in cash or groceries.

The 23-year-old Dumago said his group was offered a monthly salary of P6,200 and a P115 cellphone load for persuading Bacolod residents to switch their channels from ABS-CBN Channel 2 to GMA-7.

He claimed that this modus operandi which started last year is still ongoing  and reportedly happening in other parts of the country like Davao, Cebu and Iloilo.

Dumago, a field coordinator, alleged that officials of the rival network in Bacolod City and in Manila are involved in this operation but declined to reveal their identities.

ABS-CBN had earlier questioned the authenticity of the television ratings data being produced daily by AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines after an informant reportedly divulged that households tapped for the survey in Bacolod City had been influenced by a third party, thus influencing the viewing behavior of the sampled groups. The network also sued AGB Nielsen Media Research.

GMA, on the other hand, has challenged ABS-CBN and its informants to prove the veracity of their testimonies in court so the public can finally find out who is really telling truth and who is just spinning malicious lies.

“GMA believes that anyone can hire mercenaries to say what they want. But proving the truth of their statements is another matter. That is why GMA Network wants to ferret out the truth in court rather than be subjected to ABS-CBN’s trial by publicity where there are no rules,” GMA said in a statement.

GMA president and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon pointed out that GMA did not draw first blood but must of course defend itself against the well orchestrated and systematic demolition job that ABS-CBN has launched.

“The latest salvo of which are the interviews of informants from Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo with almost identical testimonies... already previously aired on several ABS-CBN programs,” GMA said.

As the networks war intensified, advertisers appealed to both GMA and ABS-CBN to put an end to their bickering and not to allow the issue to continue as an ugly war of unproven allegations, detrimental to both the television industry and the viewing public.

ABS-CBN is set to file a motion seeking to reconsider a decision of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court dismissing Channel 2’s case against AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines.

GMA is determined to pursue the libel charges the network filed against ABS-CBN for its repeated, malicious attempts to damage the reputation of GMA by falsely claiming that AGB Nielsen named GMA as the party behind alleged ratings manipulation.

GMA Network is seeking P10 million for moral damages, P2.5 million as exemplary damages, P 1.5 million as attorneys fees and P 1 million as litigation expenses.

GMA Network has categorically denied the accusations noting that AGB Nielsen officials had belied the report, and cleared GMA of the accusations.