GMA Network Inc. keeps narrow lead over rival

GMA Network Inc., the Philippines’ leading broadcast company, maintained its narrow lead over rival ABS-CBN in viewer-rich Mega Manila from January to May 2010, survey results of ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen Philippines showed. For the first five months, GMA Network Inc. edged out competition with an average audience share of 35.6 percent, the company said in a statement. Its audience share during the period is 0.7 points higher than ABS-CBN's 34.9 in Mega Manila, an area comprising 55 percent of the total television households nationwide. The television adaptation of comic series Darna featuring network superstar Marian Rivera led the list of top 10 programs for the said period, the company added in the same statement. Other GMA-produced shows that made it to the top 10 list include the fantasy series The Last Prince starring the Kris Bernal-Aljur Abrenica loveteam, the romantic comedy Full House billed by Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista, Philippine television's first ever musical series Diva featuring Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez, and the Network's banner newscast 24 Oras. 24 Oras, anchored by Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco, outranked competition's TV Patrol World during the period with an average household rating of 26.6 percent vis-à-vis the latter's 25.1 percent. More viewers in Mega Manila preferred GMA Network's election coverage dubbed, ELEKSYON 2010. From May 10 to 11, Eleksyon 2010 posted an average TV household rating of 12.3 percent, compared to ABS CBN's 10. The May 10 average of ELEKSYON 2010 is also higher at 12.6, compared to ABS' 11.1. On May 11, GMA's election coverage pulled ahead with a commanding 3.5 lead. GMA's primetime newscast on May 10, 24 Oras ELEKSYON 2010, posted an imposing rating percentage of 33.7 as against TV Patrol World's 22.3, or a staggering 11.4 margin. The lead based on the corresponding audience share is even more imposing — a whopping 16.4 points — with GMA posting a 51.3 percent audience share against the other station's 34.9 percent. What kept more viewers tuned in to ELEKSYON 2010 is its unbiased and comprehensive coverage from all over the country and the most reliable and up to the minute tally. ELEKSYON 2010's partial and unofficial count was consistently ahead of competition, always first in bringing to the public the latest tally of election results from all over the country. Meanwhile, GMA also kept its stronghold in another key area — Urban North/Central Luzon, where 21 percent of national television households are found. For the first five months this year, GMA registered an average audience share of 40.5 percent, or a margin of 7.6 percentage points over ABS' 32.9. At the height of its 60th anniversary with theme, "Touching Hearts, Enriching Lives," GMA readies the lineup of its television offerings for the second half. Among the programs to be launched in the Kapuso network in the succeeding months include Trudis Liit with television's newest child wonder Jillian Ward, Endless Love with the regal loveteam of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Edition with host Richard Gutierrez, Romana Santa with Rhian Ramos and Aljur Abrenica, and more. The network will hold a musical extravaganza at the Araneta Coliseum to cap its 60th anniversary celebration last June 18. The grand celebration will be aired on June 27 on SNBO (Sunday Night Box Office). GMA Network Inc. is the parent company of Media Merge Corp., the company that runs GMANews.TV. - RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV