GMA Network retains TV ratings lead in Mega Manila

MANILA, Philippines –  Backed by the strong performance of its primetime programs, broadcast giant GMA Network continued to beat rival ABS-CBN in TV ratings in viewer-rich Mega Manila and Total Urban Luzon, and has reduced the gap in the nationwide survey in September, according to TV ratings data supplier Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Mega Manila and Total Urban Luzon comprise 55 percent and 77 percent of total urban television households nationwide, respectively.

From Sept. 1 – 21 GMA was way ahead of ABS-CBN in Mega Manila with an average total day (6 a.m. to 12 mn) audience share of 37.1 percent, up by six percentage points over ABS-CBN’s 31.1 percent.

In Total Urban Luzon, GMA led ABS-CBN by 2.3 percentage points as the Kapuso network posted an average total day audience share of 36 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 33.7 percent.

“GMA Network continues to be strong in Mega Manila and Urban Luzon with a noted improvement in its overall ratings performance in these areas since July. GMA’s lead is supported by high rating new programs on primetime, as well as better performance in its noontime show and afternoon soaps. While GMA still trails ABS-CBN in the national survey, the gap for the past two months were lower compared to July,” said Jay Bautista, executive director for client service of Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Based on Nielsen’s nationwide survey, GMA has reduced ABS-CBN’s lead in audience share to 5.4 percentage points in August and partial September, from 8.2 percentage points in July.

In addition, last August, GMA had more viewers in the CDE socio-economic class in Urban Luzon, which comprises 94 percent of the total TV urban population. TV households belonging to the ABC socio-economic class make up for only six percent of the total TV urban population.

In Mega Manila, Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown, hosted by Richard Gutierrez, led all programs in the top 10 list for the period Sept. 5 – 18. Newly-launched primetime series Grazilda top-billed by Glaiza De Castro ranked second, while Ilumina starring Rhian Ramos and Jackie Rice, flagship news program 24 Oras, weekend primetime public affairs programs Imbestigador and Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho, likewise made it to the top 10 list.