GMA-7 vs. ABS-CBN 2: The Endless Battle on TV Ratings - The Truth Behind the Truth!

Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN) reported Wednesday night that ABS-CBN finally hits no. 1 in Mega Manila last May 19, 2009.

According to Taylor Nelson Sofres, ABS-CBN received an audience share of 40% in Mega Manila against GMA�s 39%. It�s been a while since ABS-CBN ruled the Mega Manila TV ratings and to date, the figures are telling that the kapamilya network is about to reclaim the leadership.

In Metro Manila, ABS-CBN received an audience share of 43% against GMA�s 34% on the same date.

And nationwide, ABS-CBN garnered an audience share of 50% against GMA�s 31%. 19% belongs to all other networks combined.

On the said date, 100% of ABS-CBN programs trumped all its rival GMA shows including Showbiz News Ngayon which is always beaten by the Koreanovela Fated to Love You.

This feat could be attributed to the drama series "Tayong Dalawa" starring Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca and Kim Chiu for topping the primetime race in Mega Manila. Another strategy made by ABS-CBN that worked was the timeslot swapping of Pinoy Bingo Night and Boys Over Flowers.

Watch SNN report below:

But this claim by ABS-CBN was immediately refutes by GMA-7.

Citing overnight TV ratings data from AGB Nielsen Philippines, GMA Network said it posted total day (6 a.m. to midnight) audience shares of 42.3 percent, 7.5 percentage points higher than ABS-CBN�s 34.8 percent.

GMA increased its lead on May 20 to 10 percentage points, as it posted total day audience shares of 41.7 percent versus ABS-CBN�s 31.7 percent.

Moreover, GMA Network said that it has maintained its Mega Manila TV ratings lead over its rival since the start of the year.

From January to May 20 (May 10 to 20 based on overnight ratings), GMA Network posted an average total day audience shares of 40.5 percent, 9.1 percentage points higher than ABS-CBN�s 31.4 percent.

ABS-CBN earlier sent text messages to advertisers and announced on-air via their late night showbiz news program Showbiz News Ngayon that they have recaptured the lead in Mega Manila TV ratings last May 19 based on data from TNS.

But the data from TNS cited by ABS-CBN was the complete opposite of the ratings data from AGB Nielsen Philippines, which clearly showed GMA posting higher TV ratings numbers than its rival.

AGB Nielsen is the more widely recognized industry supplier of TV ratings and other data in the country.

The international group began releasing official National Urban TV Audience Measurement (NUTAM) data in the Philippines in January 2007 with 1,650 home panels in Total Urban Philippines.

Its rival TNS started releasing official national data only in February 2009 with a smaller number of 1,250 home panels.

A total of 19 companies, including GMA Network, another TV channel (not ABS-CBN), and 17 of the top media agencies subscribe to AGB Nielsen.

In contrast, only ABS-CBN subscribes to TNS National Survey and only one advertising agency currently subscribes to TNS Mega Manila Survey.

Watch GMA-7's response to SNN report through Startalk: