AGB Nielsen Philippine TV ratings controversy

Last updated

A legal conflict among AGB Nielsen Philippines, GMA Network, Inc. and ABS-CBN Corporation in the Philippines for an alleged television ratings breach that occurred in Western Visayan cities of Bacolod and Iloilo, has been ongoing since the final quarter of 2007-2008.

Contents

Background

On December 20, 2007, Judge Charito Gonzales, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Br. 80 released a temporary restraining order on TV ratings surveys based on a civil case filed by ABS-CBN Corporation versus AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines. ABS-CBN accused rival GMA Network of funding bribing operations at Bacolod, to discredit the former. The Court further ordered ABS-CBN to file comment on the plea of AGB Nielsen for the alleged gathering and dissemination of television ratings data, within five days or until December 22.

On December 21, 2007, DZMM correspondent Junrie Hidalgo reported a news story titled AGB Nielsen, umamin sa dayaan: GMA Network, tahasang itinurong nasa likod ng dayaan (AGB Nielsen admits the cheating: GMA Network fiercely accused of being responsible of the cheating) during the program Showbiz Mismo, hosted by Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito. The news story is based on an interview of AGB Nielsen's General Manager Maya Reforma regarding the alleged cheating.

In response, GMA aired a TV plug[ clarification needed ] condemning the alleged biased reporting and denied the accusations of ABS-CBN. They later filed a PHP15-million civil libel suit against ABS-CBN on January 3, 2008. The respondents included Hidalgo, Fermin, Sucaldito, the station manager and news manager of DZMM and hosts, writers and executive producers of TV programs Bandila, Entertainment Live and The Buzz after the same story was aired on the mentioned programs.

On January 7, 2008, the Quezon City RTC junked ABS-CBN's suit against AGB Nielsen, saying the case was "prematurely filed" before the court. Judge Charito Gonzales's basis was the principle of mutuality of contracts, citing Article 1308 and 1196, New Civil Code of the Philippines. Also, Judge Samuel Gaerlan, QCRTC, Branch 92 issued court summons against ABS-CBN and its 15 personnel, in the P15-million damage suit by GMA Network.

On January 17, 2008, Judge Gaerlan recused himself from the case, due to a conflict of interest with the legal department of ABS-CBN. [1] The case was later re-raffled on January 28, 2008, [2] and eventually assigned to Judge Henri Inting of Branch 95, QCRTC. Judge Inting submitted GMA's petition for a temporary restraining order for decision[ clarification needed ].

On February 1, ABS-CBN presented two witnesses, Romie Diamanse and Francis Casumpang, stating RGMA head Mike Enriquez was said to have given the order to cheat in a meeting. Enriquez denied the charges and said that the statements were "shameless, malicious fiction delivered by tainted informers with an axe to grind." Diamanse and Casumpang were former employees of RGMA's 93.5 Campus Radio Iloilo (now Barangay FM 93.5 Iloilo). Casumpang resigned from the station after charges of embezzlement, and would go on to work for ABS-CBN's MOR 91.1 Iloilo. RGMA accepted Diamanse's resignation as he was considered to be "ineffective in his duties." [3]

An anonymous witness approached the ABS-CBN stations in Davao, Iloilo and Cebu to testify that the alleged employees of GMA were bribing them to watch their programs. [4] Another witness from Davao testified that they had to watch GMA programs in exchange for grocery items, upon discovering that they were using an AGB metering panel. At the end of the month, a group of women visited the witness's house to deliver the grocery items such as canned goods. [4] Another witness from Iloilo said that they had to watch GMA programs in exchange for receiving half of their electrical expenses. She alleged that the "employees" visit every month to deliver grocery items and present their ID with the logo of GMA. The group was said to have also given items such as an umbrella, a plastic cup and towels – all with the GMA logo. The GMA Network denied that they hired the person to do door-to-door visits to conduct the alleged rating manipulations. [4]

On February 14, 2008, Judge Inting issued a TRO barring ABS-CBN from airing defamatory statements against GMA. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GMA Network</span> Commercial television network in the Philippines

GMA Network is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network is commonly referred to as the Kapuso Network in reference to the outline of the company's logo. It is headquartered in the GMA Network Center in Quezon City and its transmitter, Tower of Power, is located at Tandang Sora Avenue, Barangay Culiat also in Quezon City with regional stations and offices strategically located in over 9 major cities across the country.

<i>24 Oras</i> Philippine television show

24 Oras is a Philippine television news broadcasting show broadcast by GMA Network. Originally anchored by Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, it premiered on March 15, 2004, on the network's Telebabad line up, replacing Frontpage: Ulat ni Mel Tiangco. Tiangco, Vicky Morales and Emil Sumangil currently serve as the anchors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABS-CBN</span> Commercial media network in the Philippines

ABS-CBN is a Philippine commercial broadcast network that serves as the flagship property of the ABS-CBN Corporation, a company under Lopez Holdings Corporation owned by the López family. The network is headquartered at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City, with additional offices and production facilities in 25 major cities including Baguio, Naga, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, and Bulacan, where ABS-CBN's production and post-production facility in Horizon IT Park is located. ABS-CBN is colloquially referred to as the Kapamilya Network; its brand was originally introduced in 1999 and was officially introduced in 2003 during the celebration of its 50th anniversary, and was used until it was forced by the National Telecommunications Commission to cease and desist from free-to-air broadcasting due to the lack of Congressional Franchise. On May 5, 2020, when the network was renamed Kapamilya Forever in support for the network's franchise renewal on May 13, 2020. ABS-CBN is the largest media company in the Philippines and oldest television broadcaster in Southeast Asia.

<i>Probe</i> (Philippine TV program) Philippine documentary television show

Probe Profiles is a Philippine documentary television show broadcast by ABS-CBN, GMA Network and ABC. Hosted by Cheche Lazaro, it premiered on March 6, 1987. The show concluded on June 30, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DZBB-AM</span> Radio station in Quezon City

DZBBSuper Radyo is a radio station owned and operated by GMA Network. It serves as the flagship station of the Super Radyo network and one of the assets of GMA Radio and GMA Integrated News. The station's studio is located at the 3rd floor of GMA Network Studio Annex, EDSA corner GMA Network Drive, Diliman, Quezon City, while its transmitter is located along Camia St., Brgy. Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DWLS</span> Radio station in Metro Manila, Philippines

DWLS, broadcasting as Barangay LS 97.1, is a radio station owned and operated by GMA Network. It serves as the flagship station of Barangay FM. The station's studio is located at the 3rd floor of GMA Network Studio Annex, EDSA corner GMA Network Drive, Diliman, Quezon City, and its transmitter is located at GMA Tower of Power, Brgy. Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, known on-air as ABS-CBN News, is the news and current affairs division of the Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation. The division is the country's largest international news gathering and broadcast organisation, maintaining several foreign news bureaus and offices through ABS-CBN's Global division.

Fantaserye or telefantasya is a genre of Philippine television programming which mixes soap opera, telenovela, fantasy, myth, magic and enchantment. The episodes are usually 30 minutes long and have a daily slot in the evening primetime row.

<i>Maria Flordeluna</i> Filipino TV series or program

Maria Flordeluna is a 2007 Philippine primetime soap opera that aired on ABS-CBN and DZMM TeleRadyo in the Philippines and on The Filipino Channel worldwide. A radio version of the series aired weekdays on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 in the Philippines. The show aired from February 12 to June 22, 2007, replacing Super Inggo and was replaced by Ysabella.

AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines, commonly called AGB Nielsen, is a market research firm in the Philippines specializing in broadcast media. AGB Nielsen conducts audience measurement of television ratings for certain areas in the Philippines, most notably in urban areas.

<i>Gagambino</i> Philippine television series

Carlo J. Caparas' Gagambino is a Philippine television drama fantasy series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is based from Carlo J. Caparas' graphic novel of the same title. Directed by Topel Lee and Don Michael Perez, it stars Dennis Trillo in the title role. It premiered on October 20, 2008 on the network's Telebabad line up replacing Dyesebel. The series concluded on February 20, 2009 with a total of 90 episodes. It was replaced by Totoy Bato in its timeslot.

<i>Tunay na Buhay</i> Philippine television show

Tunay na Buhay is a Philippine television documentary show broadcast by GMA Network, GMA News TV and GTV. Originally hosted by Rhea Santos, it premiered on January 21, 2011 replacing OFW Diaries on the network's evening line up. The show concluded on GMA Network on July 15, 2020. The show moved to GMA News TV on August 5, 2020 on the network's Power Block line up. Pia Arcangel served as the host. The show returned to GMA Network on January 6, 2021. The show concluded on January 12, 2022.

The X Factor Philippines is a Philippine music competition to find a new singing talent. The first season began on June 23, 2012. KC Concepcion is the host of the show, while the judging panel consist of Charice, Gary Valenciano, Pilita Corrales, and Martin Nievera.

The fourth season of Pilipinas Got Talent is a talent show on ABS-CBN. The show premiered on February 16, 2013. Billy Crawford, and Luis Manzano reprised their hosting duties; while Kris Aquino, Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Freddie Garcia returned as judges of the show.

<i>PiliPinas Debates 2016</i> Series of presidential debates in the Philippines

PiliPinas Debates 2016 is a debate series administered by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with the assistance of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas in preparation for the May 9, 2016, general election. In January 2016, the Commission on Elections confirmed that they would hold three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. This will be the first time that the COMELEC will host debates since the 1992 elections, with ABC-5 as the host network fresh from the launch of the recently restored broadcast network on February 21 of the same year, after a 20-year rest due to Martial Law. The debates were branded as PiliPinas Debates 2016. The first word is a portmanteau of Pili, Filipino for "choose" and Pinas, shortcut for the Philippines in Filipino.

The third season of The Voice Kids was a Philippine reality singing competition on ABS-CBN. Lea Salonga and Bamboo Mañalac returned to the show as coaches. Sarah Geronimo left the show to focus on her other projects, such as ASAP, and a new album. As a result, Sharon Cuneta replaced her as a coach. Luis Manzano and Robi Domingo returned to host the show; however, Yeng Constantino was replaced by Kim Chiu. Constantino didn't return to the show due to her earlier commitments with some other programs.

<i>Pinoy Boyband Superstar</i> Filipino TV series or program

Pinoy Boyband Superstar is a Philippine reality singing competition shown on ABS-CBN. The show is hosted by Billy Crawford. The judges of the show are composed of Aga Muhlach, Yeng Constantino, Sandara Park and Vice Ganda. The show premiered on September 10, 2016, replacing the third season of The Voice Kids. The goal of the show is to find the members for the newest "Pinoy boyband".

<i>I Heart Davao</i> 2017 Philippine television series

I Heart Davao is a 2017 Philippine television drama romance series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Marlon N. Rivera, it stars Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez. It premiered on June 26, 2017 on the network's Telebabad line up replacing Meant to Be. The series concluded on August 18, 2017 with a total of 40 episodes. It was replaced by My Korean Jagiya in its timeslot.

References

  1. GMANews.TV, Judge in ratings row recuss self
  2. GMANews.TV, Re-raffle of GMA Network case vs ABS-CBN reset to Jan 28
  3. Mike Enriquez: "ABS-CBN shameless in its efforts to discredit GMA Network" by, Erwin Santiago, Philippine Entertainment Portal.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lumantad na ang Witness sa GMA manipulation of TV Ratings". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  5. GMANews.TV, QC court issues TRO vs ABS-CBN in ratings tussle