Broadcast giant GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) sustained its total-day lead in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila in February based on household data from the industry’s widely trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
From Feb. 1 to 29 (with the dates of Feb. 21 to 29 based on overnight data), GMA outranked rival networks in Urban Luzon, which accounts for 77 percent of the total urban TV households nationwide, with 40.1 percent, up 7.1 points against ABS-CBN’s 33 percent, and up 33.1 points versus TV5’s 7 percent.
GMA also remained largely ahead of competition in Mega Manila, which now makes up 60 percent of the urban TV household population in the country. GMA registered 41.7 percent, leading ABS-CBN’s 30.2 percent by 11.5 points and TV5’s 7.4 percent by 34.3 points.
GMA bested other networks across all day parts in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila.
The Kapuso Network, meanwhile, continued to be the most watched channel among national urban viewers during daytime. GMA posted a 33 percent household share in the morning block in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement), ahead of ABS-CBN’s 32.5 percent and TV5’s 10.6 percent. GMA likewise kept its lead in the afternoon block with 38.9 percent, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 35.7 percent and TV5’s 7.1 percent.
February was indeed a momentous month for GMA as it successfully mounted the first leg of PiliPinas Debates 2016 on Feb. 21 in Cagayan de Oro together with its print media partner The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI). The live coverage of the debate organized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), GMA, and PDI posted a commanding 24.8 percent household rating (based on overnight data) in NUTAM, and a notable 30.5 percent in Urban Mindanao, where it rated highest among all areas.
PiliPinas Debates 2016 also emerged as the highest-rating Kapuso program in NUTAM and Urban Luzon, and landed in the top 30 listing in Mega Manila, Urban Visayas, and Urban Mindanao.
Compared with its closest competitor, more shows on GMA ranked among the highest rating programs, including specials, in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila during the covered period.
Besides PiliPinas Debates 2016, other top-rating Kapuso shows included in the lists are the recently launched Lip Sync Battle Philippines, which rated highest among all GMA programs in Mega Manila, Pepito Manaloto, Magpakailanman, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, 24 Oras, Eat Bulaga, Little Nanay, Ismol Family, That’s My Amboy, Sunday Pinasaya, 24 Oras Weekend, Because of You, Vampire Ang Daddy Ko, Wanted: President, IMBG 20 I Am Bubble Gang, another newly launched program Dear Uge, Celebrity Bluff, and Wowowin.
Nielsen has a nationwide urban sample size of 2,000 homes; while in Mega Manila, it increased its sample size to 1,200 homes effective this year.
As the leading ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement service boasts a total of 31 clients/subscribers including eight TV networks, four regional clients, two blocktimers, and 17 media agencies.
GMA subscribes to Nielsen along with TV5 and Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Ebiquity-Faulkner CBN Asia and TAPE Inc., and major advertising and media agencies such as Dentsu Aegis Network (Carat, Mediaforce Vizeum, Dentsu), GroupM (Mediacom, Mindshare, MEC and Maxus), Omnicom Media Group (OMD, PHD and M2M), Zenith Optimedia, and Starcom Mediavest.