ABS-CBN, GMA report ratings lead

GMA Network Inc. held on to its lead in urban ratings in Luzon while rival ABS-CBN Corp. said it enjoyed the top spot in nationwide audience share during the month of June.

Both companies use different third-party firms to measure their TV ratings—a measure closely followed by advertisers.

GMA, which uses data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, claimed an average total day people audience share of 35.3 percent against ABS-CBN’s 30.7 percent in urban Luzon. It also claimed a lead in mega Manila with a share of 36.3 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 28.8 percent.

ABS-CBN, armed with data from Kantar Media, said its nationwide average audience share hit 44 percent versus 32 percent for GMA in June.

Moreover, ABS-CBN said it led in urban and rural areas. Among these, Metro Manila and even GMA’s stronghold in mega Manila. In the latter, ABS-CBN said it was No. 1 with a 36-percent share versus GMA’s 32 percent.

ABS-CBN said it was also ahead in total Visayas, 53 percent against GMA’s 24 percent and in total Mindanao, with 52 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent.

ABS-CBN also claimed a lead in all time blocks, including the coveted prime-time hours, where it was ahead with 39 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent.

GMA said Nielsen TV Audience Measurement’s client pool covered a total of 32 clients/subscribers consisting of six local TV networks, three regional clients, two blocktimers and 21 agencies. ABS-CBN said Kantar Media was a leading television audience measurement provider with capabilities in gathering TV viewing data in both digital and analog platforms. It is a multinational market research group that specializes in audience measurement in more than 80 countries, 26 TV networks, ad agencies and panregional networks.