GMA regional programs retain lead in key cities nationwide, rev up preps for 2013

CEBU, Philippines - Nationwide ratings leader GMA Network, Inc. remains on the forefront of the ratings game as its Regional News and Public Affairs programs in Philippine key cities Dagupan, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, continue to beat their counterparts.

Regional morning programs remain unrivaled based on monthly data from widely-recognized ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

“We are truly grateful to our regional audiences for their continued patronage. Time and again, they have shown that when it comes to news and information, the choice has always been GMA Network,” said Rikki O. Escudero, the Vice President of GMA Regional TV and Concurrent Head of the Expansion and Production Services Division of GMA News and Public Affairs.

Escudero further added that especially during times of calamities, important events and happenings that impact on the general public, GMA programs show marked increases in their respective ratings.

For the month of October to November 17, GMA Dagupan’s Primera Balita delivered household ratings of 9.2 percent leaving behind ABS-CBN’s Gandang Umaga Kapamilya with only 2.7 percent and TV 5’s Good Morning Club with 1.4 percent.

GMA Cebu’s Buena Mano recorded 4.9 percent competing head on with ABS-CBN’s Maayong Buntag Kapamilya and defeating TV 5’s Good Morning Club with only 1.1 percent.

In Iloilo, Arangkada Ang Trip Mo Kun Aga! posted household ratings of 6.7 percent ahead of ABS-CBN’s Sikat Ka! Iloilo ’s 6.0 percent and TV 5’s Good Morning Club which only managed 0.9 percent.

Davao’s Una Ka Bai Balita at Iba Pa registered an increase of 2.1 percent from 6.6 percent in October to 8.7 in partial November. In contrast, ABS-CBN’s Maayong Buntag Mindanao decreased household ratings from 9.4 in October to 8.6 in partial November. TV 5’s Good Morning Club also decreased from 1.9 to 1.4 during the said period. 

Similarly, GMA’s regional local news programs remain to be the most preferred source of news and information aired over key cities nationwide.

Dagupan’s Balitang Amianan outrated competition with 12.3 percent ratings from October to November 17 as opposed to ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol North Central Luzon’s 6.2 percent and TV 5’s Sharon Kasama Mo Kapatid and T3 Reload Balita’s Serbisyo Ora Mismo! further lagging behind with the former registering 2.2 percent and the latter 7.1 percent.

Cebu’s Balitang Bisdak for the said period rendered 10.1 percent in household TV ratings dominating TV 5’s Sharon Kasama Mo Kapatid with 4.4 percent and Aksyon Bisaya with 6.0 percent.

Ratsada Iloilo soared with 9.1 percent holding a firm lead against TV 5’s Sharon Kasama Mo Kapatid and T3 Reload Balita’s Serbisyo Ora Mismo! which delivered 1.6 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.

Balitang Bisdak and Ratsada Iloilo continue to narrow the gap with competition especially when it began airing back-to-back with GMA’s flagship primetime news program 24 Oras.

Testigo Alagad sa Kamatuoran for the same period scored household ratings of 13.0 percent leaving behind Sharon Kasama Mo Kapatid with 2.1 percent and T3 Reload Balita’t Serbisyo Ora Mismo! with 2.6 percent.

Since its relaunch last October, Isyu Mindanao’s rating continues to improve as it further inches away from programs in the same timeslot, with in-depth reports and heart-warming stories that affect the lives, especially of Mindanaoans. Isyu Mindanao’s latest episode which aired on November 17 rated 9.7 percent against ABS-CBN’s Honey Watch Out’s 5.9% and I Got It with 6.3 percent. Isyu Mindanao is seen in Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan De Oro.

In 2013, viewers can look forward to more ground-breaking activities and programs from the Kapuso Network. Preparations are underway for Eleksyon 2013, the country’s biggest, most comprehensive, and most credible elections coverage.

“GMA Regional News and Public Affairs has been in the forefront of both local and national reportage for the network. Our corps of regional reporters has been trained to report news as it happens, when it happens, where it happens.   Our programs see airing in GMA’s international channels’ - GMA News International and GMA Life.   Definitely, we will be the people’s eyes and ears in next year’s elections,” said Cel Amores, AVP for GMA Regional News and Public Affairs.

GMA Network counts 21 prestigious names from the government, the private sector, the media, and the academe as its partners in the upcoming polls in 2013 and these are PLDT, SMART, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.Net, PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism), Catholic Media Network, COMELEC, PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting), AMA Education System, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, UP College of Mass Communication, UP School of Economics, University of Sto. Tomas, Youth Vote Philippines, RockEd, Punongbayan & Araullo, PCCI (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry), CCPI (Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands ), Philippine Bar Association and the Philippine Red Cross.