The TV ratings game

For the past two years, I have been trying to apply this unproven and unscientific ratings theory on Startalk. Based on my observations, Startalk ratings are low when 1) Traffic is bad on early Saturday afternoon and 2) When it is payday the day before and everyone goes out shopping.

This theory, however, is very inaccurate and had been proven wrong many times over. During the days and even weeks after Rico Yan’s death, for example, most TV programs even non-showbiz – enjoyed tremendous ratings regardless of whether it was payday or not. I know this sounds cruel, but tragedy brings in the ratings on TV.

Lately, the three movie talk shows on television had been enjoying fantastic ratings – thanks to the love triangle of Alma Moreno, Joey Marquez and Kris Aquino, the romance between Assunta de Rossi and Rep. Jules Ledesma and the word war between Alfie Lorenzo and Cristy Fermin. Only last Saturday, Startalk rated 17 percent, while S-Files and The Buzz both got 13 percent in the late Sunday afternoon slot.

The bad weather during the past two weeks may have wrecked havoc on a lot of lives and properties in most parts of the country, but – again, cruel as it may sound – proved to be quite beneficial to television because most people stayed home and watched TV.

But strangely enough, in spite of improved weather last weekend, most people – so it would seem – just stayed home and watched TV again. This is reflected in the high ratings of most TV programs last Saturday and Sunday.

Below are the ratings of the Saturday afternoon and evening shows based on a survey made by the AGB research company.

12 noon, (Channel. 2) Magandang Tanghali (19 percent)

(Ch. 7) Eat Bulaga (29 percent)

(Ch. 9) The Basketball Show (0 percent)

(Ch. 13) Sagupaan (1 percent)

2:30 p.m. (Ch. 2) Tanging Yaman: The Series (15 percent)

(Ch. 5) Video Hot Track (0 percent)

(Ch. 7) Startalk (17 percent)

(Ch. 9) Youth of the Nation (1 percent)

(Ch. 13) Golf Power (0 percent)

3:30 p.m. (Ch. 2) K2BU (12 percent)

(Ch. 5) Smart TV Shopping (0 percent)

(Ch. 13) PBA 2002 Game 1 (3 percent)

4 p.m. (Ch. 2) Cardcaptor Sakura (12 percent)

(Ch. 5) Metro TV (0 percent)

(Ch. 7) Wish Ko Lang (17 percent)

(Ch. 9) Auto Extreme (0 percent)

4:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) Click (18 percent)

5 p.m. (Ch. 2) Knowledge Power (12 percent)

(Ch. 5) Biker Mice From Mars (1 percent)

5:30 p.m. (Ch. 2) Magandang Gabi, Bayan (23 percent)

(Ch. 5) Kong: The Animated Series (1 percent)

(Ch. 7) Dragon Ball (21 percent)

(Ch. 13) PBA 2002 Game 2 (4 percent)

6 p.m. (Ch. 5) The Making of Stuart Little (1 percent)

(Ch. 7) Imbestigador (19 percent)

(Ch. 9) 2002 World Pool Championship (2 percent)

7 p.m. (Ch. 2) Arriba! Arriba! (22 percent)

(Ch. 5) Sailormoon (2 percent)

7:30 p.m. (Ch. 5) Family Feud (3 percent)

(Ch. 7) Idol Ko is Kap (23 percent)

8 p.m. (Ch. 2) Mary D’ Potter (18 percent)

(Ch. 9) Seven Days (2 percent)

(Ch. 13) Star for a Night (7 percent)

8:30 p.m (Ch. 5) Wow Mali! (4 percent)

(Ch. 7) Kakabakaba (27 percent)

9 p.m (Ch. 2) Klasmeyts (21 percent)

(Ch. 9) Saturday Night Playhouse (1 percent)

(Ch. 13) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (6 percent)

9:30 p.m. (Ch. 5) Saturday Night Specials: Burt Bacharach, One Amazing Night (1 percent)

(Ch. 7) Pinoy Blockbuster: Lea Salonga, The Homecoming Concert (13 percent)

10 p.m. (Ch. 2) Sapul Kayo Diyan! (22 percent)

(Ch. 13) Viva Box Office Saturday: Hindi Ako Ander, Itanong Mo Kay Kumander (8 percent)

10:30 (Ch. 2) Mission X (19 percent)

11 p.m. (Ch. 2) F (16 percent)

(Ch. 9) Gary V: By Special Request (1 percent)

11:30 (Ch. 5) Star Trek Voyager (0 percent)

(Ch. 7) Master Showman (5 percent)

Due to space constraints, I am publishing last Sunday’s ratings in my Saturday column.