ABS-CBN, GMA claim ratings lead in August

MANILA, Philippines - Media firms ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. both claimed television (TV) ratings lead in August.

Citing data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN said in a statement it dominated nationwide TV viewership ratings last month, with an average national audience share of 45 percent, 10 percentage points higher than GMA’s 35 percent.

The network continued its lead in key territories such as Luzon (all areas in Luzon outside of Mega Manila) where it got an average total day audience share of 48 percent compared with GMA’s 35 percent, in the Visayas with 58 percent against 26 percent, and in Mindanao with 58 percent versus 27 percent.

ABS-CBN also remained the leader in the primetime block covering 6 p.m. to 12 midnight in August, with an average national audience share of 52 percent, bigger compared with GMA’s 29 percent.

The primetime block is considered the most important part of the day as this is when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment to reach more consumers.

“The supremacy of the Kapamilya network for the month of August was bolstered by the launch of new teleseryes and the highly anticipated finales of primetime programs,” ABS-CBN said.

 Meanwhile, GMA said it continued to top the TV ratings in key areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila in August, citing data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Urban Luzon accounts for 77 percent of all urban TV households in the country, while Mega Manila holds 59 percent.

GMA noted it had a total day audience share of 39.8 percent in Urban Luzon, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 32.2 percent and TV5’s 7.5 percent.

In Mega Manila, GMA also had an advantage over other networks with its 42 percent audience share, above ABS-CBN’s 28.4 percent and TV5’s 7.9 percent.

It also continued to rule the afternoon block with its 42.9 percent share compared to ABS-CBN’s 31.6 percent and TV5’s 7.5 percent.

“Relative to competition, majority of the top regular programs that entered the list in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement), Urban Luzon and Mega Manila came from GMA,” GMA said.