ABS-CBN, GMA continue to claim ratings leadership

MANILA, Philippines - Rivals ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. both claimed to have won the nationwide television (TV) ratings game in March.

In a statement yesterday, ABS-CBN said it remained the leader in nationwide TV ratings through its 46 percent audience share compared to GMA’s 34 percent, based on data from Kantar Media.

Kantar Media’s data was based on a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population.

ABS-CBN said it ruled the primetime block (6 p.m. to 12 a.m.) with an average audience share of 50 percent, compared to GMA’s 33 percent in March. 

The primetime block is the most important part of the day as this is when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put bulk of their advertising budget.

Aside from primetime, ABS-CBN also had more viewers in the morning block (6 a.m. to 12 noon) with an audience share of 39 percent versus GMA’s 33 percent, in the noontime block (12 noon to 3 p.m.) with 47 percent versus GMA’s 34 percent, and in the afternoon block (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with 45 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent.

ABS-CBN said it was also the winner in Total Balance Luzon where it recorded an average audience share of 47 percent compared to GMA’s 35 percent, as well as in Total Luzon with 42 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent, in Total Visayas with 53 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent, and in Total Mindanao with 55 percent versus GMA’s 30 percent.

Of the 10 most watched programs in March, nine were from ABS-CBN, with FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano topping the list.

Meanwhile, GMA said it was ahead of competition based on Nielsen TV Audience Measurement’s National Urban Television Audience Measurement with a 41.7 percent people audience share, higher than ABS-CBN’s 36.3 percent.