PBA SHOOTS IBC TO NO.3

April 4, 1996 (Manila Standard)

That's right. The basketball games with its millions of fans in Metro Manila alone is the single biggest factor why IBC-13 is now joining the primetiem TV ratings now.

The PBA games TV coverage, skillfully handled by Vintage Enterprises, draw the audience to the network betweeen 5 and 10 p.m. According to the PeopleMeter report for the week March 3-9, IBC ranked third nighttime televiewing. Between the 5 p.m. to 12 midnight slot, the network took a 12 percent share across All People category. ABS-CBN's was 47 percent and GMA's 23 percent. ABC got only seven percent and RPN, five percent. PBA's former carrier PTV-4 ranked in a measly three percent.

Among males (13 years and up) in the survey, IBC emerged as the third most watched network with a 14 percent share. With the Board C Male/Female (7-29 years old) category, it boast an 11 percent share.

It is without any doubt, the PBA Games '96 which emerged as the network's top rated with 30 percent share. But with other VTV Primetime Network's programs are steadily contributing to the network's increase in viewership. Notable is Hip Strip which is the umbrella title for the various daily shows telecast right after the PBA games until midnight.

Here are the audience share of those shows:

MVTV (Tuesdays), 13 percent share; CinemaScoop (Wednesdays), 12 percent; Rated E (Fridays), 12 percent; Hot Stuff (Mondays), 8 percent; and Pillow Talk (Thursdays), 6 percent. Other VTV shows that rated fairly well during the survey perios were the 12th Annual Star Awards for Movies (12 percent), Monday Movie Magic (8 percent), Sunday's Big Showdown (9 percent) and Super Champs (5 percent).

As I reported in this space, IBC's ratings figures are steadily climbing. They may not threaten the two giants now, but its presence may just be too preacarious to ignore.