GMA7 gets nationwide lead

THE NETWORK ratings war is heating up with television broadcast firm GMA Network Inc. claiming a nationwide lead in September audience share as it cited for a second-straight month the success of the AlDub segment of long-running noontime show “Eat Bulaga.”

Rival ABS-CBN Corp., which uses data from a different company, disputed the lead and said it cornered the most viewers nationwide in September.

GMA, which is traditionally strong in Mega Manila and Urban Luzon areas, said in a statement on Friday that it won a total day household audience share of 37.4 percent for September 2015, citing data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

The figure, GMA said, was higher than ABS-CBN’s 34.9 percent and TV5’s 9 percent.

ABS-CBN, using data from Kantar Media, said it scored an average national audience share of 44 percent against GMA’s 36 percent. Moreover, ABS-CBN said it led during the so-called prime time segment, with a national audience share of 50 percent against GMA’s 31 percent.

GMA already credited a boost in its August ratings to AlDub, which refers to the “love team” pairing of celebrities Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza aka “Yaya Dub.” The show has been gaining popularity since its debut in July.

It was no different for September as Eat Bulaga ranked as the most-watched program in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, GMA said in its statement.

Aldub is part of the so-called kalyeserye segment of Eat Bulaga, which airs on GMA.

GMA said it also led ABS-CBN in the morning block with 34.1 percent versus the latter’s 33.5 percent, as well as in the afternoon block with 45.2 percent against ABS-CBN’s 29.5 percent. GMA was ahead of TV5 in all time blocks in National Urban Television Audience Measurement, or Nutam.

Moreover, GMA was ahead of other networks in all day parts in its stronghold areas, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, including the hotly contested primetime block.

Urban Luzon represents 77 percent of the total urban TV household population of the country while Mega Manila accounts for 59 percent.

GMA posted a 42.2-percent total day household share in Urban Luzon, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 30.4 percent and TV5’s 7.9 percent.

In Mega Manila, it won a 44.6 percent total day share against ABS-CBN’s 26.8 percent and TV5’s 8.3 percent.