ABS-CBN Corp. said it continued to dominate national television ratings in November, citing data from research firm Kantar Media.
In a statement, the Lopez-led media and entertainment company said it recorded a 44% average audience share nationwide last month versus 35% for GMA Network, Inc.
Leading in both urban and rural homes, ABS-CBN said for the prized prime time block (6 p.m. to midnight), it garnered a national audience share of 46% last month, while GMA had 36%.
Aside from prime time -- which 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 -- ABS-CBN said it also led other time blocks nationwide: the morning block (6 a.m. to noon) with 40% to GMA’s 35%; the noontime block (noon to 3 p.m.) with 44% to GMA’s 34%; and afternoon block (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with 44% to GMA’s 34%.
Eight out of the 10 most-watched TV programs were ABS-CBN shows, with FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano posting an average rating of 35.4%.
Kantar Media data also showed that like the previous months, variety show It’s Showtime, is still the most watched noontime show in the country with a national TV rating of 17.6% on weekdays and 19.5% on Saturdays, against its rival Eat Bulaga which only got 12% on weekdays and 13.7% on Saturdays, ABS-CBN said.
Other programs that made it to the list include Magpahanggang Wakas, Till I Met You, TV Patrol, Pinoy Boyband Superstar, Wansapanataym, Rated K, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky Season 7, Tonight with Boy Abunda, Bandila, Gandang Gabi Vice, Be My Lady, ASAP, Banana Sundae, Umagang Kay Ganda, Magandang Buhay, Doble Kara, The Greatest Love, Ipaglaban Mo, Family Feud and Goin’ Bulilit.
“In other areas, ABS-CBN also beat GMA. The Kapamilya network won the ratings game in total Balance Luzon with 47% versus GMA’s 36%; in total Visayas with 53% versus GMA’s 28%; and in total Mindanao with 53% versus GMA’s 30%,” the Lopez-led entertainment company added.
ABS-CBN in its statement also said it also maintained its leadership in the digital platform through iWant TV, its pioneering video-on-demand service and the leading OTT platform in the country with over six million subscribers.
In a separate report late last week, its rival GMA Network, Inc. said it widened its lead in nationwide TV ratings. From a 1.8-point margin in October, GMA said it increased its national urban television audience measurement (NUTAM) advantage over ABS-CBN to 3.2 points in the period with a household audience share of 37.8% versus the rival network’s 34.6%, quoting ratings provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
“The stellar performance was a result of GMA’s continued leadership in all-day parts, more particularly in prime time where it surpassed ABS-CBN’s audience share by 3.9 points. GMA also strengthened its TV ratings lead in Urban Luzon, which remains to be a strong area for the Kapuso Network. Urban Luzon represents 77% of the total urban TV household population in the entire country,” GMA said in its statement.
GMA said in Urban Luzon, it registered an average household share of 42.5%, besting ABS-CBN’s 30.2%, translating to a 12.3-point margin over ABS-CBN, even higher than GMA’s 10.6-point lead last October.
“GMA was ahead of ABS-CBN in all parts of the day in Urban Luzon by double-digits,” it added, noting that Kapuso programs also dominated the list of the 10 most watched shows in the country led by Encantadia with a household rating of 24.4%, grabbing the top spot in NUTAM,” it said.
The two media giants subscribe to different TV audience measurement providers. ABS-CBN said Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes, while GMA said Nielsen data has approximately 900 more homes in the sample compared to Kantar.
Further reinforcing GMA’s nationwide ratings performance were 24 Oras (22.3 percent), which now ranks as the number one primetime newscast, Pepito Manaloto (22.9 percent), Magpakailanman (22.1 percent), Alyas Robin Hood (20.8 percent), Ismol Family (20.7 percent), Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (20 percent) and 24 Oras Weekend (18.8 percent).
Also posting high nationwide ratings are Hay Bahay, Tsuperhero, Wowowin, Imbestigador, Eat Bulaga, Sunday Pinasaya, Unang Hirit, Oh My Mama, Hahamakin ang Lahat, Someone to Watch Over Me, Bubble Gang and Saksi.
The boxing special “Resurgence: Pacquiao versus Vargas,” which aired exclusively on GMA on Philippine free TV, topped the list of programs including specials in November with a 32.9 percent household rating.
ABS-CBN shares closed at P44.50 on Friday, down by 0.45% from P44.70, while GMA shares were flat at P6.15 apiece. -- Imee Charlee C. Delavin
