ABS-CBN sues AGB Nielsen over TV ratings

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. filed a case against AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines for the alleged "systematic, organized and well funded attempt to cheat in the ratings," the broadcast network's Web site reported on Friday. In a statement issued later Friday evening, rival television network GMA expressed concern over the report. "GMA Network is concerned about the report that the true ratings of the TV programs as reported by AGB can be manipulated," the GMA Network statement said. "The accuracy of the ratings of the TV programs is of utmost importance not only to the TV stations but also to the advertisers, ad agencies, and the viewing public," it added. "For more than four years now, GMA Network has been complaining to AGB about the highly illogical and unexplainable disparity between the cable and non-cable ratings of GMA’s programs, which do not obtain in respect to ABS-CBN’s programs. "GMA-7 is keenly interested in getting at the bottom of this if there is any basis at all to the said reports," the statement added. - GMANews.TV GMANews.TV is the official Website of GMA Network's News and Public Affairs department.