ABS- CBN vs GMA 7 TV Ratings

ABS-CBN Corporation was the undisputed ratings leader for national TV viewership in October while rival GMA Network held on to Luzon after claiming to have wrested the nationwide lead from ABS-CBN in September.

Based on data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN said more urban and rural households tuned in to its programs, hitting an average total day audience share of 44 percent, nine points higher than rival GMA’s 35 percent.

ABS-CBN said it also preserved its stronghold in the primetime block (6PM-12MN), where it recorded an average national audience share of 49 percent, a strong 15-point lead over GMA’s 34 percent.

The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively.

The primetime block of ABS-CBN also showed its supremacy in other key territories such as Balance Luzon (areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila), where it led with an average audience share of 54 percent, in the Visayas with 61 percent, and in Mindanao with 60 percent.

GMA’s primetime block, on the other hand, garnered only 32 percent, 26 percent, and 27 percent respectively for the said areas.

Meanwhile, GMA reported that it continued to dominate TV ratings in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila last October, besting other free-to-air TV stations by substantial margins.

Urban Luzon and Mega Manila represent 77 percent and 60 percent, respectively, of the total urban TV household population in the entire country.

Citing data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA said that, from October 1 to 31 (with the dates of October 26 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA led competition in total day ratings in Urban Luzon with a 37 percent household audience share, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 30.8 percent by 6.2 points and TV5’s 8.2 percent by 28.8 points.

GMA said it also remained undefeated in Mega Manila, posting a 38.1 percent household audience share, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 28.1 percent by 10 points and TV5’s 8.9 percent by 29.2 points.

It beat other networks in all time blocks in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila including primetime.

Compared to its closest competitor, more GMA programs figured in the list of top programs in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila with 16 and 18 (out of 30 programs) entries, respectively.