ABS-CBN, GMA still locked in TV ratings dispute

MANILA, Philippines — Broadcast giants ABS-CBN and GMA Network continue to claim leadership in TV ratings, using separately commissioned surveys as basis.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it remains the undisputed number one TV network in April with an average audience share of 45 percent, as compared to GMA’s 33 percent, based on latest data from Kantar Media.

The Lopez-run network said it scored an average audience share of 42 percent against GMA’s 25 percent in Metro Manila.

In a separate statement, GMA said it dominated ratings in the same month as it cited data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement which showed that it registered an average of 39.7 percent total day people audience share in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), ahead of ABS-CBN’s 38.6 percent.

Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes while Nielsen surveys approximately 900 more homes in Total Urban and Rural Philippines.

ABS-CBN also claims it leads in Mega Manila, where it hit 36 percent against GMA’s 34 percent.

“The Kapamilya network also led other networks in Total Luzon where it got 41 percent against GMA’s 35 percent, in Total Visayas where it garnered 54 percent against GMA’s 26 percent, and in Total Mindanao where it hit 51 percent against GMA’s 29 percent,” ABS-CBN said.

In contrast, GMA said it was ahead of the competition with 45.8 percent total people audience share in Mega Manila, while ABS-CBN only managed to get 30.5 percent.

“The Kapuso Network maintained a double-digit margin in Urban Luzon with an average total day people audience share of 44.2 percent versus competition’s 33.2 percent,” GMA said.

Moreover, based on data from Kantar Media, 10 ABS-CBN programs made it to the list of the most watched programs in the country, which covers urban and rural homes.

Among these shows are “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” which retained its top position with an average national TV rating of 41 percent, followed by “Pilipinas Got Talent (36.9 percent), “Bagani” (33.2 percent), “TV Patrol” (28.8 percent), “MMK” (27.6 percent), “Wansapanataym” (27.5 percent), “Home Sweetie Home” (24.5 percent), “The Good Son” and “Since I Found You” (20.6 percent) and “Rated K” (20.1 percent).

“Half of Philippine households watching TV also remained glued to ABS-CBN’s primetime block (6 pm to 12 midnight), which recorded an average audience share of 50 percent, or 18 points higher than GMA’s 32 percent,” ABS CBN said.

“The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively,” it added.

For its part, GMA said among its programs that gained top ratings in the NUTAM are “Kapuso Mo,” Jessica Soho (KMJS), “Kambal, Karibal,” “Magpakailanman,” “Pepito Manaloto” and “24 Oras.”

Newly-launched primetime series “The Cure” immediately made it to the top 30 list joining “Sherlock Jr.,” “The One That Got Away,” “Lip Sync Battle Philippines,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Contessa,” “Imbestigador,” “Wowowin” and “The Stepdaughters.”

GMA said it also dominated the Urban Luzon and Mega Manila lists, claiming 20 spots out of the top 30 programs in both areas.

Kantar Media is a leading television audience measurement provider with capabilities in gathering TV viewing data in both digital and analog platforms. It is a multinational market research group that specializes in audience measurement in more than 80 countries, has 26 TV networks, ad agencies and pan-regional networks subscribing to its ratings services.

In 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; five regional clients; two blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, two consulting agencies, one digital agency); and one advertiser.