GMA starts 2011 atop rate charts

MANILA, Philippines - Broadcast industry leader GMA Network announced that it continued its winning ratings performance, sweeping through National Urban Philippines this February and dislodging rival station ABS-CBN in the number one position at the start of 2011.

According to the full February data (Feb. 20 to 28 based on overnight readings) from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA ate up 34.2 percent of household audiences nationwide, 2.2 percentage points higher than ABS’ 32 percent share; and 19.3 points higher than TV5’s 14.9 percent.

GMA booked 16 programs in the list of overall top 30 programs nationwide. GMA News and Public Affairs’ (N&PA) Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho was television’s highest rated public affairs program nationwide with a household rating point of 22.1.

In Total Urban Luzon, which makes up 77 percent of total television households nationwide, GMA enjoys top rank with ABS and TV5 remaining behind by huge margins. GMA finished its February programming with 37.9 household share points, more than 10 points higher than ABS’ 27 points; and up by 21.2 points over TV5’s 16.7.

Including specials, there were 21 GMA-produced programs that made it to the top 30 programs in Urban Luzon. The Charice Home for Valentine’s scored a high 27.2 household rating points on the board.

GMA also said it strengthened its grip in viewer-rich Mega Manila, which comprises 58 percent of total television households nationwide. For the covered period, GMA scored 39.4 share points, or a 14.3-point lead from ABS’ 25.1; and higher by more than twofold than TV5’s 17.3.

It noted that top Mega Manila programs came from GMA. With specials, there were 23 Kapuso programs that made it to the top 30 programs in the said area. Of the top 10 programs on chart, eight were from GMA. Among the top raters for February were News and Public Affairs programs 24 Oras, Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho and Imbestigador; entertainment programs Dwarfina, Machete, Magic Palayok, Koreana, Alakdana, My Lover, My Wife and I Heart You Pare; Koreanovelas Tempation of Wife and The Baker King and the all-time hit Eat Bulaga. Newly-launched program of ABS the Price is Right did not make it to the list.

The Nielsen TV Audience Measurement used by GMA is used by 21 companies including two other local TV networks, namely, TV5 and Solar Entertainment; Faulkner Media; CBN Asia; 13 advertising agencies and three regional clients. On the other hand, ABS-CBN is the only local network reportedly subscribing to Kantar Media, formerly known as TNS.