ABS-CBN, GMA slug it out anew in ratings battle to win lucrative ads

The country’s two largest television broadcast companies sparred over who claimed the No. 1 spot in terms of television ratings just halfway through October.

GMA Network Inc. and ABS-CBN Corp. released separate statements over the weekend, saying they each lured the most viewers from Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 this year.

This was a departure from the usual ratings announcements at the start of each month, and signaled the intensifying battle for viewership as well as the advertising money the market leader attracts.

In its statement, GMA said it has “retaken” the lead in nation-wide television ratings. Citing data provided by Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA said it overtook its closest competitor, ABS-CBN Corp., in National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) with an average people audience share of 38.3 percent. It said ABS-CBN got 37.6 percent.

ABS-CBN broadly contested the results, citing data from Kantar Media. ABS-CBN said it got a national average audience share of 45.7 percent, or a 12 point lead over GMA’s 33.6 percent.