MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. both claimed to have dominated television ratings in January, citing separate surveys they commissioned.

ABS-CBN said data from Kantar Media -- the TV measurement division of market research firm TNS Philippines Inc. -- showed more Filipino households in urban and rural areas nationwide tuned in to its programs, bringing its total day audience share to 40% in January versus GMA's 33%.

In Luzon and outside mega Manila, ABS-CBN said its total day share stood at 41% compared to GMA's 37%. The same was true, the company said, in Visayas and Mindanao where it had 47% and 53% shares, respectively, against GMA's 37% and 22%.

It said it maintained its lead in the nationwide primetime block, with a 44% total audience share, higher than GMA's 31%. Running from 6 pm until 12 midnight, primetime shows are the most attractive for advertisers because these are what most people watch.

On the other hand, GMA, citing a survey by Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, claimed it registered an average total day household audience share of 33.1%, beating ABS-CBN's 32.4%.

In urban Luzon, GMA said it had a 36.9% total day household share versus ABS-CBN's 26.5%, while its share in mega Manila was 37.9%, better than ABS-CBN's 26.5%.

ABS-CBN is the lone major TV network that subscribes to Kantar Media. GMA and third-ranked TV5 subscribe to Nielsen.

ABS-CBN shifted to Kantar Media when it filed a case against AGB Nielsen Media Research and alleged the latter failed to comply with the network's request for a probe into reported cheating and data tampering in the TV ratings survey.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide sample size of 2,000 homes, higher than Nielsen's 1,370.

In Metro Manila, Kantar Media gathers data based on a sample size of 770 homes, versus Nielsen's 1,190. - Rappler.com