ABS-CBN vows to continue fight for ‘clean, fair’ ratings game

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. yesterday vowed to continue its fight “for clean and fair” television ratings even as the Quezon City Regional Trial Court junked the other day its P63-million damage and breach of contract complaint against ratings firm AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines Inc.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it would file a motion for reconsideration before the court as they could not afford to deny the public the truth just because of a mere technicality.

“Our case and our moral purpose can only get stronger, as more and more witnesses are coming out to tell the truth about cheating in the ratings,” ABS-CBN said.

“The fight for a clean and fair TV ratings process is a crusade that ABS-CBN will continue. Our witnesses’ courage and passion for truth inspire us and fortify our will to fight for a clean and fair TV ratings process. We promise to continue telling their stories so the public will know how ratings are being manipulated,” it also said.

ABS-CBN insisted that “cheating is not data error and can never be considered as such” and that “bribing households equipped with TV meters to change their members’ viewing behavior should be condemned.”

ABS-CBN said that “acknowledging that it exists and refusing to clean the process is tantamount to condoning and allowing cheating to happen.”

“Our issue is simple. We want AGB Nielsen to clean up their panels and replace the corrupted ones. The process is difficult, but it is the only way that AGB Nielsen can demonstrate its sincerity, intention, and determination to have clean and fair TV ratings data for the media industry and the viewing public,” it said.

ABS-CBN hopes that they would be allowed to present their evidence and make the court determine who is telling the truth over allegations of tampered television ratings, which, of late, have apparently heightened further the rivalry between ABS-CBN and GMA-7.

Meanwhile, GMA-7 welcomed the dismissal by the court of ABS-CBN’s case against AGB Nielsen.

GMA-7 said it agrees with the decision of Quezon City RTC Branch 80 Judge Charito Gonzalez that ABS-CBN prematurely filed the case against AGB Nielsen based on the terms of their Service Contract for TV Audience Measurement.

“(GMA Network) believes that there was no basis for the case filed by ABS-CBN,” it said in a statement.

Citing “premature filing,” the RTC dismissed on Monday the P63-million damage and breach of contract complaint filed by ABS-CBN against AGB Nielsen.

In a seven-page decision, the court said ABS-CBN should have first resolved the allegations with AGB Nielsen privately, as stated in its contract with the survey firm.

The decision handed down by the court in effect favored the motion to dismiss the case, which was filed by AGB Nielsen.