ABS-CBN retains top spot in nationwide TV ratings in March

MANILA, Philippines - Multimedia conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp. has retained the number one spot in national primetime TV ratings in March, according to global market research group Kantar Media/TNS.

Kantar Media said ABS-CBN registered an audience share of 42 percent last month, 12 points above main rival GMA-7’s 30 percent, due to the strong line-up of its primetime program which runs from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.

“The Kapamilya network’s teleseryes’ compelling storytelling and content continue to grip viewers nationwide and get the highest TV ratings on primetime, when most of the Filipino viewers watch TV and which advertisers spend most for their commercial placements,” ABS-CBN said.

The survey showed ABS-CBN got nine out of the top 10 most-watched programs last month.

For the first quarter, ABS-CBN’s audience share was 36 percent, up one percentage point from GMA’s 35 percent. The network managed to secure all slots in the top 10 most watched programs during the same period.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s AM radio station DzMM performed strongly in the Nielsen Mega Manila RAM for January 2011, capturing an audience share of 32.9 percent, easily eclipsing the combined audience share of GMA-7’s DzBB (16.4 percent) and Manila Broadcasting Corp.’s DZRH (14 percent) for the same month. 

Aside from ABS-CBN, Kantar Media’s other subscribers include NBN, SkyCable, J. Romero and Associates, Adformatix, Starcom, OMD, PhD, Mediacom, Mindshare, MEC, Maxus, Universal McCann and Wellmade Manufacturing Corp. They also include pan-regional networks likes CSM Media Inc., Fox International Channels, Star HK, Discovery, AXN, HBO, MTV, and Sony Pictures Television International.

ABS-CBN shifted to Kantar Media/TNS after filing a case against AGB Nielsen Media Research for failing to comply with its request to investigate alleged cheating and data tampering in TV ratings. The case is still pending in court. 

Kantar Media started releasing its Philippine television audience measurement data in February 2009 with panels composed of 1,370 representative households covering urban Philippines and reporting on seven sectors namely the National Capital Region, North Luzon, Central Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.