Broadcast leader GMA Network welcomed 2016 in a position of strength as it continued to rule in nationwide TV ratings in January, according to the industry’s most trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
Driven by its lead in the daytime blocks, GMA garnered 37.5 percent in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement) in January (with the dates of January 24 to 31 based on overnight readings), up 2.2 points from ABS-CBN’s 35.3 percent and up 29.3 points from TV5’s 8.2 percent.
GMA also continued to be the most watched channel across all timeblocks in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, where most of the urban TV households are found. Urban Luzon accounts for 77 percent, while Mega Manila increased its urban population share to 60 percent effective January 2016.
In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day audience share of 42.5 percent, higher than ABS-CBN’s 30.1 percent by 12.4 points and TV5’s 7.4 percent by 35.1 points.
The Kapuso Network was also largely ahead in Mega Manila with 44 percent, leading ABS-CBN’s 27.4 percent by 16.6 points and TV5’s 7.8 percent by 36.2 points.
Compared to its rival ABS-CBN, more Kapuso programs entered the top 30 programs (including specials) list in NUTAM, Urban Luzon and Mega Manila.
The reality sitcom Pepito Manaloto took the top spot in Urban Luzon; while multi-awarded news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho emerged no. 1 in Mega Manila and led the list of Kapuso shows in NUTAM.
Magpakailanman, Eat Bulaga, Marimar, 24 Oras, Ismol Family, Sunday Pinasaya, and Little Nanay also ranked among the top-performing programs in January.
Completing the list are Because of You, That’s My Amboy, Celebrity Bluff, Wowowin, 24 Oras Weekend, The Half Sisters, Karelasyon, Kapuso Primetime Cinema, Vampire Ang Daddy Ko, IMBG 20 I Am Bubble Gang, Wish I May, Wanted: President, Buena Familia and i-Witness.
Nielsen has a nationwide urban sample size of 2,000 homes; while in Mega Manila, it increased its sample size to 1,200 homes effective this year.
As the leading ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement service boasts a total of 31 clients/subscribers including eight local TV networks, four regional clients, two blocktimers, and 17 media agencies.
GMA subscribes to Nielsen along with TV5 and Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Ebiquity-Faulkner CBN Asia and TAPE Inc., and major advertising and media agencies such as Dentsu Aegis Network (Carat, MediaforceVizeum, Dentsu), GroupM (Mediacom, Mindshare, MEC and Maxus), Omnicom Media Group (OMD, PHD and M2M), Zenith Optimedia, and StarcomMediavest.
★★★★★
Everything Vilma Santos
Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto is back where she is happiest…. on camera. Currently, she is starring in Star Cinema’s Everything About Her that also stars her future daughter-in-law Angel Locsin and matinee idol Xian Lim.
The film debuted on screens on Feb. 3 and up until today, Vilmanians or not, and fans of both Angel and Xian have been filling to capacity theaters that screen it. And why not? Vilma appears very rarely in movies since she became a politician. She doesn’t appear in a daily soap opera as well. Understandably, her fans miss her badly and when she finds time to face the cameras, they scramble for tickets to the cinemas where the film is screened.
In the movie, Vilma is Vivian, a powerful, but very strict CEO of a big company. During a doctor’s check-up, she learns that she has cancer, and is then assigned a nurse (Angel) to take care of her. While taking care of Vilma, Angel must also convince Albert (Xian Lim), Vivian’s son, to come home from the US and live with them.
In November 2014, Vilma confirmed that she and Angel were going to do a movie. The movie was also supposed to star Luis Manzano, Vilma’s son and Angel’s boyfriend, but he decided not to accept it to protect their relationship.
Directed by Joyce Bernal, Everything About Her is Vilma’s most challenging role thus far as she isn’t playing the usual roles assigned her.
I met Vivian Sarabia (of Sarabia Optical) recently and she thought Vilma’s character in the film has been pegged on her. In the film, Vilma is Vivian Rabaya (the last names rhymes with Sarabia), though the actual Vivian doesn’t have cancer and she isn’t as strict as the Vivian in the movie.
★★★★★
Joanna Ampil in ‘Art 2 Art’
Internationally acclaimed actress and singer Joanna Ampil is the featured guest in Art 2 Art’s first episode for the month, airing on Feb. 7.
Shuttling between her commitments in Manila and abroad, Ampil sits down with host Lisa Macuja for a look-back at her multi-faceted career that started at age 17 when she played the lead in Miss Saigon in London in 1993.
Macuja and Ampil are actually sharing a role in Ballet Manila’s forthcoming production titled Rebel. The former dances as Inang Bayan (Motherland), while the latter takes on the musical voice, in Martin Lawrance’s ballet based on Spartacus that derives characters and events from the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Ampil, who is also a recording artist, will sing a number for Art 2 Art listeners and viewers.
Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art is aired every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on DZRH (666 khz on the AM band), on cable television via RHTV (Channel 18 on Cignal Cable) and online through DZRH Live Streaming.
For inquiries, please e-mail art2artdzrh@gmail.com. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes.
★★★★★
Senator Grace says, ‘Don’t look down on showbiz folk’
When asked if there’s anybody from show business she would tap for a cabinet position if she’d win the elections, Senator Grace Poe said she is sure she could find a qualified person for the position.
“My basis for choosing members of my Cabinet or any position in government should be integrity, competence, professionalism, and the ability to be able to deliver at the time in hand,” Sen. Grace said in a forum held by a major daily.
“Whether from showbiz, male or female, they are welcome to serve in my administration as long as they have those attributes,” added the senator.
As the adoptive daughter of Fernando Poe, Jr. and Susan Roces, two of the most popular and highly respected personalities in show business, Grace grew up with showbiz folk around her, so that’s why she knows the ins and outs of the business.
She feels bad when people from other fields consider people from show business inferior. But the senator believes that if a person has dedication, industry and integrity in his or her job, it doesn’t matter if they come from show business.
“Hindi dapat maliitin kung anumang sektor, sektor ng magsasaka, sektor ng kultura o ano pa man,” she said.
She even mentioned Vice Mayor Isko Moreno of Manila and Commissioner Dingdong Dantesof the National Youth Commission as examples of showbiz folks that have made their mark as public servants.
“I think we’ve seen Isko Moreno (running for senator in Grace’s party), who has started out really literally from Smokey Mountain. And as you know, he earned his way being a public servant, being an actor, studying, serving in local government and being where is he now,” the senator said while adding,“Dingdong Dantes, is in the National Youth Commission, and when I spoke to him, he is very knowledgeable about what’s happening in the youth sector.”
Sen. Grace believes that people in show business have great potentials because they know how to connect with the masses and with politicians.
“And I think this is also for our friends in show business, some of them are great communicators, they have compassion, and they can really help Sen. Grace Poe concluded.
★★★★★
Edward Benosa is Lani Misalucha’s guest
On Feb. 14 and 15, singer and recording artist Edward Benosa gets the biggest break of his career when he guests in the show of Lani Misalucha.
The show is titled Love Catcher at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theatre for the benefit of the Cancer Alleviation Network on Care, Education and Rehabilitation (CANCER). It will also feature the female trio Baihana with the world-famous Philippine Madrigal Singers.
Edward will sing “Di Man Lang Nagpaalam” and another OPM number. He doesn’t have a duet with Lani, but the mere honor of sharing the same stage with her is already a major thing for an upcoming artist like Edward. For him to be included in the concert lineup is definitely a big break.
“Malaking bagay po talaga,” acknowledges Edward. “Wala akong duet with her, pero sobrang sarap ng feeling na I’ll be on the same stage as The Nightingale. Para sa akin, isa siya sa pinakamagaling na babaeng singer. I’m really honored na makapag-perform sa concert niya. Di ko na-expect na now, sa ganito ka-early na stage ng career ko, na makapag-perform ako sa ganito kalaking singer natin.”
Edward met Lani, who’s a label-mate in Star Music, when they performed in a show featuring Star Music talents at 19 East. Lani, being the biggest star, was the finale number. Edward recalls how starstruck he was when he met her backstage, in the dressing room. He couldn’t even say anything. All he could manage was to ask to have a picture taken with her.
Edward recalls how that first meeting went. “Starstruck ako. Tulala. Wala akong nasabi,” he laughs. “Na-intimidate at na-overwhelm ako, na ang saya. Isa siya (Lani) sa mga tinitingala ko. Sobrang blessed ako na makita siya, ma-meet at ngayon makasama sa concert. Sa ginagalawan namin na mundo, sobrang na-a-appreciate namin na mga baguhan ang tinitingala namin na artists at ang work na ginagawa nila.”
Newcomers, like Edward, automatically become better artists when they work with people like Lani, which is why he is looking forward to sharing the stage with her. In the future, he hopes they would get the chance to do a duet, but until then, he will take what he can get and continue to improve himself so that when that big break comes, he will be ready.
For now, you can catch more of Edward and his music by following him on social media, at facebook.com/realedwardbenosa, @realbenosa on Twitter and realbenosa on Instagram.
