GMA Network maintains slight lead in Mega Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Broadcast firm GMA Network kept its slight TV ratings advantage over main rival ABS-CBN in viewer-rich Mega Manila from January to May 2010, according to survey results from ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen Philippines.

Mega Manila comprises a huge 55 percent of the total television households nationwide.

During the five-month period, GMA Network edged out competition with an average of 35.6 percent audience share slightly higher than ABS-CBN’s 34.9.

The television adaptation of comic series Darna headlined by Network superstar Marian Rivera led the list of the top 10 programs for the period. Other GMA-produced shows that made it to the list include the fantasy series The Last Prince starring the Kris Bernal-Aljur Abrenica love team, romantic comedy Full House billed by Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista, Philippine television’s first ever musical series Diva featuring Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, and the network’s banner newscast 24 Oras.

24 Oras, anchored by Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco, outrated competition’s TV Patrol World during the period with an average household rating of 26.6 percent against the latter’s 25.1 percent.  

Also more viewers in Mega Manila preferred GMA Network’s election coverage dubbed, Eleksyon 2010. From May 10 to 11, Eleksyon 2010 posted an average TV household rating of 12.3 percent, compared to ABS CBN’s 10 percent.

GMA’s primetime newscast on May 10, 24 Oras Eleksyon 2010, posted a commanding rating of 33.7 percent as against TV Patrol World’s 22.3, or a staggering 11.4 margin. The lead based on the corresponding audience share is even more imposing – a whopping 16.4 points – with GMA posting a 51.3 percent audience share against the other station’s 34.9 percent.

The company said more viewers tuned in to Eleksyon 2010 due to its unbiased and comprehensive coverage from all over the country and the most reliable and up to the minute tally.  Eleksyon 2010’s partial and unofficial count was consistently ahead of the competitor and was always first in bringing to the public the latest tally of election results from all over the country it added.

Meanwhile, GMA also kept its stronghold in another key area – Urban North/Central Luzon, where 21 percent of national television households. For the January to May period, GMA registered an average audience share of 40.5 percent, or a margin of 7.6 percentage points over its rival 32.9 percent. On its 60th anniversary anchored on the theme, “Touching Hearts, Enriching Lives,” GMA readies the lineup of its television offerings for the second half. Among the programs to be launched in the Kapuso Network in the succeeding months include Trudis Liit with television’s newest child wonder Jillian Ward, Endless Love with the regal love team of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Edition with host Richard Gutierrez, Romana Santa with Rhian Ramos and Aljur Abrenica, and more.