ABS-CBN, GMA Network still locked in television ratings dispute in January

ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network, Inc. continued to tussle over television ratings in January, with both media giants claiming the lead but citing different measurement providers.

In a statement, ABS-CBN claimed its nationwide average audience share reached 45% in January versus its rival’s 30%, based on a report from Kantar Media. Its audience measurement provider obtained its data from 2,610 urban and rural homes nationwide.

The Lopez-led firm said its dominance was spread across the country’s capital and the three main island groups, as it recorded 44% average audience share in Metro Manila against GMA’s 23%; 37% in Mega Manila versus GMA’s 28%; 40% in Total Luzon opposed to GMA’s 32%; 54% in Total Visayas edging GMA’s 25%; and 55% in Mindanao beating GMA’s 26%.

On the other hand, GMA said its average total day people audience share in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) was 37.8% for the first month of the year, higher than ABS-CBN’s 35.9%, with data from Jan. 27 to 31 based on overnight ratings.

GMA had tapped Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, which gathered data from 900 more homes than Kantar, covering the total urban and rural Philippines.

Nielsen’s data showed GMA won 41.9% share of the total day people audience in Urban Luzon against ABS-CBN’s 30.1%. For Mega Manila, GMA also beat its rival with 43.7% share versus 26.8%, based on data from Jan. 1 to 26.

In terms of time slots, both ABS-CBN and GMA once again claimed dominance.

ABS-CBN said it reigned supreme across the board with 50% average audience share for prime time (6 p.m. to 12 a.m.) against GMA’s 29%; 37% for the morning block (6 a.m. to 12 p.m.) versus GMA’s 27%; 42% for the noontime block (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) versus GMA with 31%; and 44% for the afternoon block (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) against GMA’s 33%.

Its rival GMA challenged this, saying Nielsen data showed it garnered 34.8% audience share for the morning block versus ABS-CBN’s 30.9%; and 40.1% share in the afternoon block against ABS-CBN’s 34.2%.

Both networks likewise claimed to have produced the most watched shows for the month of January. ABS-CBN said its “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” had the number 1 spot with an audience share of 39.1%, while GMA said its “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS)” topped Nielsen’s list for top-rating shows in the NUTAM. 

Variety show “It’s Showtime” is still the most watched noontime show in the country with a national TV rating of 38.9% on weekdays and 36 percent on Saturdays, against its rival “Eat Bulaga” which only got 35 percent on weekdays and 28.6 percent on Saturdays, ABS-CBN said.

New shows debuted strong, including action drama “The General’s Daughter” (32.8 percent) and the reality competition World of Dance Philippines” (30.8 percent)

The network's flagship newscast “TV Patrol” got 30.2 percent, the just-concluded drama series “Ngayon at Kailanman” got 28.7 percent, “Maalaala Mo Kaya” got 24.3 percent, “Halik” got 23.2 percent, “Tonight with Boy Abunda” got 22.8 percent, “Bandila” got 21.6 percent, “Rated K” got 20.5 percent, “Gandang Gabi, Vice” got 18.6 percent, “Playhouse” got 17.7 percent, “Kadenang Ginto” got 16.4 percent, “Los Bastardos” got 15.3 percent, the returning “Minute to Win It: Last Man Standing” got 22.6 percent, “Goin Bulilit” got 21.5 percent, “Home Sweetie Home” got 20 percent and “Wansapanataym” got 22.4 percent.

KMJS was followed by “Pepito Manaloto,” “24 Oras,” “Daddy's Gurl,” “Magpakailanman,” “Onanay,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko” and “Studio 7.”

Included in the list of ratings drivers for the month were “Cain at Abel,” “Amazing Earth,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “Wowowin,” “Imbestigador,” “My Golden Life,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko,” “Ika-5 Utos,” “My Special Tatay” and “Tadhana.”  

GMA likewise took the lion's share in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila lists, taking 8 and 9 spots out of the top 10 programs, respectively.

Meanwhile, GMA's free TV airing of Manny Pacquiao's fight against Adrien Broner last January 20 clearly dominated competition. GMA garnered a whopping 69.8 percent people audience share in NUTAM while its counterpart programs in ABS-CBN only got 13.2 percent. TV5, which also aired the Pacquiao fight, only managed to get 10.7 percent. — Denise A. Valdez

https://www.bworldonline.com/abs-cbn-gma-network-still-locked-in-television-ratings-dispute-in-january/