Race for TV ratings lead remains tight

TV network giants ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. continue to contest the nationwide ratings lead for the month of July.

In a statement, ABS-CBN claimed it is still the undisputed number one TV network in the country as it pulled in more viewers nationwide compared to other TV networks last month when it garnered an average audience share of 44 percent compared to GMA’s 33 percent.

ABS-CBN’s data came from multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media which uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes.

ABS-CBN said it was also the TV network of choice for households in Metro Manila, where it scored an average audience share of 42 percent against GMA’s 28 percent, as well as in total Luzon (39 percent against GMA’s 37 percent), Total Visayas (51 percent against GMA’s 26 percent), and total Mindanao (53 percent against GMA’s 26 percent).

Kantar Media data showed “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” was the most watched program in the country, with an average national TV rating of 42.8%, while variety show “It’s Showtime” is still the most watched noontime show in the country with a national TV rating of 40.5% on weekdays and 38.1% on Saturdays, against its rival “Eat Bulaga” which only got 37.4% on weekdays and 36% on Saturdays.

ABS-CBN said it had 8 of the 10 highest-rated shows nationwide for July, including “Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids,” “TV Patrol,” “Bagani,” “Since I Found You,” “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” “Bandila,” “Umagang Kay Ganda,” “Magandang Buhay,” “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” “Asintado,” “Araw Gabi,” “The Blood Sisters,” “ASAP,” “Banana Sundae,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “MMK,” “Goin’ Bulilit,” “Wansapanataym,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “Rated K,” “I Can See Your Voice” and “Gandang Gabi, Vice.”

ABS-CBN reported a net income of P411 million for the first quarter and as of end-July, it has sold 5.5 million boxes of ABS-CBN TVplus since its launch in 2015.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, GMA Network said it has widened its lead over rival ABS-CBN in nationwide television ratings, citing latest data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For July, GMA said it posted an average total day people audience share of 41.8 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement, topping ABS-CBN’s 36.7 percent.

“GMA’s solid ratings performance was a result of the network’s continued leadership across all dayparts,” the company said.

“The Kapuso Network continued its dominance in the viewer-rich areas of urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country,” it said.

In the morning block, GMA said it registered 38.6 percent people audience share as against ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent.

The company said it also posted a bigger margin in the afternoon block with 43.4 percent compared to ABS-CBN’s 35.9 percent.

GMA said it was also ahead of its main competitor in the evening block with an average of 42 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 38 percent.

More GMA shows also made it to the list of top programs in NUTAM with “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS)” keeping its spot as the most watched Kapuso program nationwide. The newly-launched Kapuso telefantasya and Alden Richards-starer “Victor Magtanggol” immediately entered the list following KMJS.

More GMA shows also made it to the list including “Magpakailanman,” “24 Oras,” “Lip Sync Battle Philippines,” “Pepito Manaloto,” “Kambal, Karibal,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko” and “The Clash.”

Completing the list were “The Cure,” “Amazing Earth,” “Inday Will Always Love You,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “Wowowin,” “Imbestigador,” “You’re My Destiny,” “Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka,” “Unang Hirit,” “Kapag Nahati ang Puso,” “My Guitar Princess,” “Tadhana,” “The Stepdaughters,” “Sunday Pinasaya,” “Eat Bulaga” and “Contessa.”

More viewers nationwide also preferred GMA’s coverage of Manny Pacquiao’s fight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last July 15 as well as President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 23.

GMA’s coverage of the much-awaited bout between Pacquiao and Argentinean Lucas Matthysse garnered a people audience share of 49.2 percent in NUTAM which topped ABS-CBN’s 30.7 percent.

“SONA 2018: The GMA News Special Coverage” was likewise the most watched with 41.2 percent overnight people audience share in NUTAM versus ABS-CBN’s 32.6 percent.

GMA said Nielsen data is “statistically considered more representative of the total TV population” as it gathers a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media, with approximately 900 more homes surveyed in total urban and rural Philippines.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/08/05/1839654/race-tv-ratings-lead-remains-tight