GMA's Habagat tops polls

Manila, Philippines -  Earlier this month, torrential rains flooded much of the country’s capital and its neighboring cities and provinces. By early morning of Aug. 7, flood waters were already waist-deep in most parts of Manila. Thousands were displaced while millions worth of properties were lost.

In trying times such as this, more Filipinos turned to GMA News and Public Affairs for the latest news reports, particularly the special Habagat coverage, made even more comprehensive with GMA 7’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz’s thorough and valuable analysis of the weather conditions.

Based on Aug. 6 to 9 overnight data from the widely recognized TV ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, Unang Hirit registered 9.9 household rating points in National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) while ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda posted only 7.4 points. Unang Hirit also led in Urban Luzon, 12 versus 7.8 points, and in Mega Manila, 12.7 versus 7.8 points.

In the same manner, GMA 7’s 24 Oras dominated the primetime news block when it ruled over TV Patrol both in Urban Luzon (27.1 versus 23.4 points) and Mega Manila (27.8 versus 21.1 points).

GMA 7’s late-night news broadcast Saksi, in turn, maintained its lead over competition in all areas. Saksi registered 7.1 points in NUTAM over Bandila’s 6.7 points; 8.6 versus 6.7 points in Urban Luzon; and 9.6 versus 7.1 points in Mega Manila.

For its part, leading news channel GMA News TV posted significant increase in viewership in all areas for the period of Aug. 6 to 9.

In its primetime block alone, News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho led TV5’s Pilipinas News (3.1 versus 2.1 rating points) in NUTAM, while posting even bigger lead in Urban Luzon (1.7 points) and Mega Manila (2.2 points).

No matter the weather, GMA News and Public Affairs remains to be the viewers’ most preferred source of news as it happens, when it happens.