ABS-CBN Claim Doubted?

ABS-CBN CLAIM DOUBTED ABS-CBN is on a festive mood for the last few days and all fingers point to the recently released Television Audience Measurement (TAM) survey by AGB Nielsen where ABS-CBN reportedly got the better of its closest competitor GMA Network. TAM survey results, which cover 90% of the total urban population in the country, show ABS-CBN leading GMA in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. GMA, on the other hand, is ahead of ABS-CBN in Luzon . But a much closer look at the figures reveals another side to the story, which is a far cry to that of ABS-CBN claiming nationwide ratings supremacy. Apparently, 76% of the entire viewing population is located in Luzon where GMA is still the undisputed leading station, while Visayas accounts for only 14% and Mindanao a measly 10%. In the Metro cities alone, the TAM survey shows ABS-CBN leading GMA in Metro Cebu, Iloilo, and Metro Davao, while GMA maintains its dominance only in Metro Manila. Interestingly, Metro Manila accounts for 80% of the total TV homes and the remaining 20% is still divided between Metro Cebu, Iloilo and Metro Davao. With these data, an industry observer says there seems to be no basis to ABS-CBN’s claim that they are the leading network in the country since they only lead in areas where the TV population is undoubtedly smaller than that of GMA Network.