GMA widens gap over rival in Mega Manila TV ratings

After playing a tight ratings match with rival ABS-CBN Corporation in June, broadcast giant GMA Network pulled away in July by posting significant increase in Mega Manila TV ratings, the company said in a statement. GMA had also established confident margins over competition in its bailiwick area based on the more widely recognized TV ratings service, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. People data from July 1 to 31 (July 25 to 31 based on overnight data) showed GMA leading in total day (6 a.m. to 12 m.n.) average total audience share by 5.6 points with 37.5 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 31.9. During primetime (6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.) of the covered period, GMA was ahead of ABS-CBN by 4.4 share points with 39.7 percent vis-à-vis the latter's 35.3. On weekdays, GMA outranked competition by 5.3 total day share points with 39 percent as against ABS-0CBN’s 33.7, according to the statement. On weekday primetime, GMA’s telebabad (primetime) programs made a collective margin of 2.7 points versus ABS-CBN’s primetime drama series. GMA’s primetime block delivered stronger share performance with 41.8 points compared to the competitor’s 39.1. On weekends, GMA recorded an imposing lead of 6.3 percentage points in audience share with 34.1 percent as against competition's 27.8. On weekend primetime, GMA widened the gap to 8.9 points with 34.5 versus ABS-CBN’s 25.6. Mega Manila comprises 55 percent of total urban television households nationwide, the GMA statement said. It includes Metro Manila and suburbs - parts of Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. In another key area - Urban Luzon - which made up 77 percent of television households nationwide, GMA led ABS-CBN by 0.4 percent with 35.8 versus the latter's 35.4. The margin spelled a noticeable decline in ABS-CBN’s ratings performance in the said area, where they led GMA by 5.4 points the previous month. GMA Network, Inc.'s digital subsidiary, GMA New Media Inc., is the parent company of Media Merge Corp. Media Merge Corp. runs GMANews.TV. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV