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| (Image Source: Journal Online/GMA Network) |
As the year 2020 proved to be by far one of the toughest - with the worldwide and nationwide public health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the series of natural and manmade disasters that tested the Filipino spirit - GMA Network soldiered on to deliver Serbisyong Totoo and eventually remains the Filipinos' top news and entertainment source.
Based on Nielsen Philippines TV Audience Management's Total Philippines data for 2020 (January 1-December 26, 2020), the largest broadcasting network in the Philippines reached 98.5 percent of Filipino TV households with an estimated 84.1 million viewers nationwide. GMA was also the most watched channel in Total Philippines during the said period with a 48.3% audience share. In both Total Luzon and Total Visayas, GMA's net reach was similarly at 98.6% of TV households while posting 49.8 and 47.7 people audience shares respectively. On the other hand, the network was also able to reach 97.9% of viewing households in Total Mindanao with a 42.2% people audience share.
The primetime newscast 24 Oras, which emerged as the most watched program of 2020, headlines the network's News and Public Affairs lineup which consistently served as one of GMA's main thrusts. In terms of total broadcast hours, GMA and GMA News TV have devoted a combined average of 18 hours daily - from January to December 2020 - for various news and public affairs programs. GMA allotted almost 25% of its actual airtime to news and public affairs shows which is equivalent to 4.5 hours daily while these are accounted for 75% of GMA News TV's programming or around 13.5 hours daily on the average.
For radio, GMA Network's flagship stations were on the top of Mega Manila's AM and FM lists. According to Nielsen's Radio Audience Management, Super Radyo DZBB 594 KHz recorded a 41.9% audience share among AM stations and a reach of over 2.3 million listeners nationwide while Barangay LS 97.1 scored a 25% audience share among FM stations and a share of more than 4.8 million listeners nationwide. On the other hand, Super Radyo DYSS 999 similarly took the number one spot in Cebu's AM list with a whopping 74.6% audience share while Barangay FM 107.1 bested other FM stations in Bacolod with a 55.4% audience share as of the fourth quarter of 2020. Furthermore, DZBB provides special coverages to deliver up-to-the-minute updates on different events that happened in the country via its Bantay COVID-19 Special Coverage, Bantay Bulkan, Bantay Bagyo, Bantay Baha and recently Bantay Bakuna which can be seen via GMA News TV's "Dobol B Sa News TV" block.
On digital platforms, GMA News and Public Affairs had a banner year as it led in video viewership and engagement. According to Tubular Labs data, GMA News was the most viewed news media organization in the Philippines on both Facebook and YouTube for the year. It peaked at the fifth spot worldwide on May 2020 at the height of the Luzon lockdown. GMA News was also the frontrunner for all Philippine news pages on Facebook in terms of engagement based on data from CrowdTangle. In addition, GMA Public Affairs reached the ten-million subscriber mark on YouTube in April 2020 making GMA Network the first media organization in the Philippines with two Diamond Creator Awards from the streaming site.
With 2020 being an eventful year amidst the challenges, GMA Network is facing 2021 with optimism as it recently unveiled its new lineup of offerings. Following the success of GMA Affordabox which now has over one million sold in just six months after its launch despite the pandemic, Kapuso viewers are set to witness the launch of GMA Now, GMA Network's digital mobile TV receiver which enables them to watch their favorite Kapuso shows on-the-go on their smartphones and enjoy various online interactive features. Likewise, the Kapuso network offers a variety of content through its digital channels Heart Of Asia for Asian dramas, Hallypop for Asian pop culture, and DepEd TV which provides Filipino learners free access to DepEd's blended learning program for the school year. GMA is also set to deliver the games of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) on GMA 7, GMA News TV, GMA Pinoy TV and online streaming via GMANetwork.com. Viewers can expect more exciting projects from the largest and most watched television network in the Philippines as the Year of the Ox unfolds.
