RATINGS GAME (August 16): "Marimar" continues to dominate primetime viewing

Entering its first week, GMA-7's Marimar bolstered its grip on the primetime top spot with a strong 34.9 percent showing yesterday, August 16, while Kris Aquino's Deal or No Deal of ABS-CBN) registered a 25.8 percent rating. This is according to the overnight rating conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households.

Although Marimar's pilot airing last Monday (August 13) recorded a staggering 36.6 percent, its rating shot up considerably at 36.9 percent on its third run, August 15, with lead star Marian Rivera making her television debut as Marimar.

Many experts feel that it is still too early to predict whether there would be a dominant trend in favor of Marimar. But experts agree that having a fresh face in the person of Marian plays a huge factor in keeping the viewers interested and tuned in every night.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN's fantaserye Kokey maintained its strong showing against GMA-7's Mga Mata ni Anghelita in its timeslot as it posted a 33.6 percent rating, compared to the 31.3 percent posted by its counterpart. The suspension of classes due to typhoon Egay may have been a major factor in shoring up Kokey's performance as children stayed glued to their television sets.

Edu Manzano's Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) reigned in its noontime slot with an impressive 22.7 percent rating ,compared to GMA-7's Takeshi's Castle's 17.7 percent. Many viewers credit Edu's effective style of hosting, completely moving away from the huge shadow of former host, Kris Aquino.

The country's long-running noontime show Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7), on the other hand, affirmed it dominance as indicated by its 24.4 percent ratings against unpredictable rival, Wowowee's (ABS-CBN) 19.8 percent.

Interestingly, Meteor Garden (GMA-7) gave its former home network a dose of its own medicine by smothering Kapamilya Network's Margarita with a whooping ten-point margin, 24.1 percent against the latter's 14.1 percent. Clearly, F4 fever, albeit much tempered, still has that distinct pull on the viewer's heartstrings.

Richard Gutierrez's Lupin (GMA-7), which is on its final stretch, tallied a solid 32.9 percent rating. Its counterpart, Judy Ann Santos's Ysabella on ABS-CBN, in the meantime, collected a mark of 29 percent.

GMA-7 posted an overall audience share of 20.1 percent vs. ABS-CBN's 17.4 percent.

Here are the top 10 shows last August 16:

1. Marimar (GMA-7) - 34.9%
2. Kokey (ABS-CBN) - 33.6%
3. Lupin (GMA-7) - 32.9%
4. Impostora (GMA-7) - 31.5%
5. Mga Mata Ni Anghelita (GMA-7) - 31.3%
6. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 31.2%
7. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 29.4%
8. Ysabella (ABS-CBN) - 29.0%
9. Jumong (GMA-7) - 27.1%
10. Deal Or No Deal (ABS-CBN) - 25.8%

Source: AGB Nielsen Philippines

I guess the Fantaserye is over now and people are craving for those Mexican telenobela copycat. I think both GMA7 and ABS-CBN TV networks are exchanging their styles... after GMA made the Encantadia they are giving their Imaw character to ABS-CBN in the character of Kokey...