By JAMES A. LOYOLA ABS-CBN finished 2019 as the leader in nationwide ratings although rival GMA Network still claimed dominance in Urban Luzon, including Mega Manila, for the entire year. In a statement, ABS-CBN said data from Kantar Media showed that it earned a nationwide TV audience share of 44 percent compared to GMA’s 31 percent. It led in Metro Manila with 42 percent of the audience share versus GMA’s 25 percent and in Mega Manila with 36 percent versus GMA’s 31 percent. The network also won in Total Luzon with 40 percent over GMA’s 33 percent, in Total Visayas with 54 percent versus GMA’s 24 percent, and in Total Mindanao with 51 percent over GMA’s 28 percent. Leading in all time blocks, ABS-CBN registered 47 percent versus GMA’s 31 percent during primetime; 37 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent in the morning; 44% versus GMA’s 31 percent at noon time; and 46 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent in the afternoon. For its part, GMA said January to December Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data showed that GMA recorded 35.5 percent total day people audience share, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 30.4 percent in Urban Luzon. The said viewer-rich area accounts for 72 percent of all urban viewers in the country. Building the momentum in the morning slot with 28.1 percent, GMA won against rival network’s 25.8 percent. This continued in the afternoon slot with GMA’s 36.7 percent versus ABS’ 30.9 percent. GMA further topped its competitor in the evening block with 37.7 percent while ABS-CBN only got 31.9 percent. In Mega Manila, which accounts for 60 percent of all urban viewers in the country, GMA posted 36.6 percent total day people audience share compared to ABS-CBN’s 28 percent based on official data from January to December 21. Furthermore, in December 2019 alone, GMA posted 33.7 percent total day people audience share in Urban Luzon as against ABS-CBN’s 28 percent while GMA led by a bigger margin with 34.2 percent versus competition’s 26.4 percent in Mega Manila (with official data from December 1 to 21).