GMA Network solidifies position as nationwide leader in ratings, reach, and revenues

 BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

  

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AT A GLANCE

• In its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting last May 17, GMA reported that it reinforced its dominance as the number 1 Philippine media conglomerate across TV, radio, and online platforms. 

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GMA Network Chairman & CEO Felipe Gozon

Broadcast giant GMA Network, Inc. continues to be the most-watched, most trusted, and most-awarded Network in the country. 

In its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting last May 17, GMA reported that it reinforced its dominance as the number 1 Philippine media conglomerate across TV, radio, and online platforms. 

Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data from January to December 2022 showed that GMA Network’s combined people net reach, including GTV and its other digital channels, was at 96 percent or 78 million viewers in Total Philippines.

In terms of ratings, the Network’s flagship channel, GMA-7, ranked first in Overall Channel Rankings. Its second free-to-air channel, GTV, was in the second spot, while its DTT channels, I Heart Movies and Heart of Asia, ranked 5th and 6th, respectively. 

The Network also dominated the list of top programs in 2022. 28 of the top 30 shows in both Nielsen NUTAM and PHINTAM People Ratings were from GMA. Landing on the top 3 spots were the epic series Lolong, the flagship newscast 24 Oras, and multi-platform leader Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. 

GMA Antipolo transmitter

“I am very proud to say that GMA continues to be the home of groundbreaking programs. Our Entertainment Group produced the stellar masterpiece, Maria Clara at Ibarra… We also changed the pre-primetime habit of Filipino TV viewers with Family Feud Philippines while the first season of Running Man Philippines, co-produced with SBS Korea, was well-accepted by the Filipino audience. Abot Kamay Na Pangarap continues to be the number 1 daytime program on TV and online. Needless to say, we maintained our supremacy in ratings and content in 2023,” said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. 

GMA’s mega-series, Voltes V Legacy, is now the top entertainment program in the country, according to Nielsen data from May 8-11. Voltes V: Legacy The Cinematic Experience, released in over 70 SM cinemas nationwide, performed well at the box office, and due to insistent public demand, its run was extended in select theaters. 

On Radio, flagship AM station Super Radyo DZBB and FM station Barangay LS remain unrivaled, topping the Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) Mega Manila ratings. 

The Network also cemented its position as the main source of local news, with GMA Regional TV’s programs winning the ratings in their respective areas. It also launched three originating stations in 2022: GMA Batangas, GMA General Santos, and GMA Zamboanga. In 2023, it launched GMA Ilocos Norte and is now working on GMA Palawan. 

In the international arena, GMA reached more Global Pinoys through its landmark partnerships in various Over-the-Top (OTT) and mobile platforms. 

The year 2022 was a period of digital milestones for the Network. GMA led in video viewership on Facebook and YouTube and continued to win in emerging platforms. It finished 2022 with more than 75 million subscribers across its various YouTube channels and reached 162.4 million followers/fans in its official Facebook accounts. With high reach and engagement levels in all its digital platforms, GMA’s online properties delivered 34.5 billion video views. 

GMA Network Center

The Network’s AVOD or Advertising-based Video on Demand platforms bested other Filipino media companies on Tubular Leaderboard Worldwide Rankings for the entire fourth quarter of 2022, ending the year at Number 17, in a list that includes global content giants such as Walt Disney, Moonbug, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Its portal, GMA Network.com surpassed all other Filipino media sites in both local and global ranking by December 2022, according to Similar Web. Meanwhile, GMA News Online emerged as the most trusted online platform in the Digital News Report 2022 released by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

The year 2022 was also a big year for GMA's talent management arm, which was rebranded as Sparkle. Its artists forged partnerships and endorsements with trusted brands; graced multiple covers in major local and international magazines; and its prime artists have top-billed the Network’s most-watched programs. 

GMA continued to invest heavily in ensuring that its broadcast reach—both via analog and digital terrestrial television—remains unparalleled. To date, it is the largest Network with 98 TV stations and 21 radio stations across the archipelago. It made investments in its post-production infrastructure to create programs with cinematic visuals and deliver content suitable for today’s premium streaming platforms. 

Its diversification vehicle, GMA Ventures, made several local and international investments. GMA also collaborated with various content producers to create top-notch content for TV, online, OTT, and films. It closed content licensing deals with international streaming leaders Netflix and Viu, among several others. The Kapuso Network is also returning to the silver screen with six films in the pipeline. 

Despite lower financial indicators due to global disruptions and advertising industry cutbacks, GMA continued to deliver strong returns to its shareholders. With its exemplary fiscal management, the Network’s consolidated revenues once again surpassed the P20-billion mark, a back-to-back feat from 2021. On May 16, Kapuso Network paid its shareholders P5.35 billion in cash dividends. Since its listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2007, GMA has declared total dividends amounting to P45.99 billion—equivalent to an average of 96 percent of the Network’s net income after tax year-on-year.

“2022 was a year of Strengthening Our Paths To Growth. We fortified our core business while progressively creating foundational breakthroughs… Armed with a wide reach, superior content and technology, and the most talented people in the industry—I am hopeful that the next years, will be GMA’s best years,” said Atty. Gozon.   

Wearing Your Music on Your Gown

by Maureen Buja, Intrlude

The 2023 Met Gala brought out all kinds of dresses, including Karl Lagerfeld’s 40-year-old violin dress, designed in 1983 for Chloé, worn here by Olivia Wilde.

Olivia Wilde in Lagerfeld

But Lagerfeld wasn’t the only designer to find his inspiration in the instruments of music. Viktor and Rolf used pink violins to great effect in 2008.

Viktor & Rolf, Spring 2008 Ready-to-Wear (photo by Marcio Madeira)

In fact, if we go back to 1939, we have Elsa Schiaparelli’s music dress in white organza and gloves, embroidered with coloured metallic threads.

Elsa Schiaparelli, 1939 (Met Museum)

In 1988, Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring collection used Braque’s musical instruments as its inspiration.

Michael G. Cunningham: Free Designs: IV. Georges Braque (Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra; Vit Micka, cond.)

Yves Saint Laurent, Braque, Spring 1988 Couture

In their Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection, Threeasfour used parts of real instruments in their design, such as this violin body.

Threeasfour, Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear, Violin

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli created Valentino’s Spring 2014 show completely based on opera, including this dress based on La Traviata that was later worn by Katy Perry to the 2014 GRAMMY Awards.

Giuseppe Verdi: La traviata – Act I: Dell’invito trascorsa e gia l’ora (Rosanna Carteri, Violetta; Rome Opera House Chorus; Rome Opera House Orchestra; Pierre Monteux, cond.)

Valentino, La Traviata, Spring 2014 Couture

Katy Perry at the 2014 Grammy’s in Valentino

For the Spring 2017 Ready-to-Wear collection, Dolce & Gabbana used the familiar keyboard design for a very short skirt, worn under a highly elaborate jacket.

Dolce & Gabbana, Spring 2017 ready-to-wear

For the Spring 2020 catwalks, Jeremy Scott for Moschino also dipped into Braque’s cubist instruments.

Yellow Violin, Moschino

Pink Guitar, Moschino

And Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss used not only the familiar piano key pattern but also the shapes of instruments, such as the curve of an electric guitar on a lapel.

Pyer Moss, Spring 2020, Ready-to-Wear – Piano top

Pyer Moss, Spring 2020, Ready-to-Wear, Piano bag

Pyer Moss, Spring 2020, Ready-to-Wear Piano – Red with Keyboard

Pyer Moss, Spring 2020, Ready-to-Wear – Guitar Lapel

If all this is just a bit too high-style, then we can look at the new villain character for next season’s Doctor Who. Played by actor Jinkx Monsoon, the character’s costume not only has a piano keyboard extra- extra-wide lapel but also a piano keyboard lining to her ominous cape.

Jinkx Monsoon, 2023

And all of this is just a small part of how music has become part of couture.

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Rep. Duterte tells 40 new PNP leadership course graduates to use acquired knowledge to better serve public

 

  

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DAVAO CITY – First Congressional District Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte encouraged the police personnel who graduated from the Public Safety Senior Leadership Course to remember their lessons to serve better and protect the public.

RIGO Duterte (Ivy Tejano)

Congressman Pulong Duterte was represented by his son, Rodrigo "Rigo" Duterte II, who delivered the legislator’s message and welcomed the 40 graduates of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) leadership course at the National Police Training Institute, Regional Training Center 11 (RTC-11), here, on Wednesday, May 17.

“After the celebrations and as you return to your respective units and stations, always remember the teachings you learned in the past six months, for sooner or later, you’ll apply such knowledge,” Rigo said in behalf of his father, who was on duty during the event.

Rep. Duterte reminded the graduates to use the knowledge they have gained to serve and protect the constituents in their respective areas of responsibility, to continue having a better place to live, and that the towns/cities they belong to be the most livable in the country.

“Congratulations on a job well done to each of you for completing the mid-level management course and training on responsible leadership,” Rep. Duterte said.

“You have all the reason to be proudly sitting there beaming with pride as you accomplished a remarkable deed worth another feather in your cap,” he added.

RTC-Davao  chief Police Col. Marvin Fontalva  congratulated the graduates and declared that he is proud of the milestone that they have reached.

“These policemen went through such a leadership course to improve their competence and skills in handling their respective duties, given they are now on a managerial level. We expect that upon their return to their units, they could apply what they have learned,” Fontalva said.

Fontalva encouraged the graduates to share what they learned from the training and apply them to improve the services in their respective offices and to the public

The police graduates endured six months of being away from their homes and families to complete the course, Rep. Duterte said, adding that everyone expects them to be fully equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for management and leadership.

Rep. Duterte thanked Fontalva for inviting him to be part of such a remarkable success of the police force in the Davao region.

The 40 police officers will soon return to their respective units in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental.

CAB lowers June fuel surcharge

BY EMMIE V. ABADILLA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The Civil Aeronautics Board’s (CAB) on Thursday (May 18) lowered the applicable fuel surcharge rates for domestic and international flights by another notch, from the current Level 5 to Level 4, effective June, 2023.

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The Civil Aeronautics Board’s (CAB) on Thursday, May 18, lowered the applicable fuel surcharge rates for domestic and international flights by another notch, from the current Level 5 to Level 4, effective June, 2023.

The move is expected to bring down air fares and boost travel demand.

Under the Level 4 matrix of the CAB, passengers buying tickets in June will only be charged P117 to P342 for domestic flights.

Under the current Level 5 matrix, passengers incur an additional surcharge of P151 to P542 for domestic flights.

On the other hand, international passengers originating from the Philippines, will be charged P385.70 to P2,867.82 next month, depending on the distance.

At present, international passengers are paying surcharges ranging from P498.03 to P3,703.00.

Airlines wishing to collect yhe fuel surcharge from June 1 to 30, 2023 must file their application with the CAB on or before the effectivity period, according to the agency's advisory.

The CAB has been steadily bringing down the fuel surcharges from Level 6 in April and Level 7 in March with the decline in the price of jet fuel prices, which account for 50 percent of the airlines' costs.

However, airlines can collect fuel surcharge rates that are lower than the CAB matrix level, or they may not impose it at all, depending on how they want to compete with other carriers.

Travel demand is sensitive to pricing and any form of reduction in air fares can encourage more people to fly.

Xiandi Chua exceeds own expectations with strong SEAG showing

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

May 18, 2023 01:55 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Chua had a good medal haul, bagging a gold, a silver and two bronze medals in the 32nd SEA Games. However, the 23-year-old said that she went through some tough moments before the biennial meet.

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By BRIAN YALUNG

Filipino swimmer Xiandi Chua admitted that her performance in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh exceeded her expectations after a string of disappointments along the road.

Xiandi Chua is one the country's top performers in the recent Southeast Asian Games.

Chua had a good medal haul, bagging a gold, a silver and two bronze medals in the 32nd SEA Games. However, the 23-year-old said that she went through some tough moments before the biennial meet.

The DLSU Green Tanker admitted going through rough patches, especially after her performance in the last SEA Games where she was unable to bring home a medal. It came to a point where she thought of quitting the sport and not swimming anymore since she felt she was not good enough to compete in high-level swimming performance.

“The people around me who supported me throughout my swimming career, they always talk to me, especially my coach [Pinky Brosas]. He talked to me about just enjoying the process and to keep moving forward because he feels my potential has not been maximized yet and that there are more things to work on. It will be just a waste to leave everything behind because of that failure,” Chua shared.

“To walk away from a sport, on a bad note, is something that I may regret in life later on,” she added.

Heading into this year’s biennial meet, the 23-year-old set a modest goal – which is to bring home at least a bronze medal.

“For this SEA Games, I just wanted to come home with a bronze [medal],” Chua stated.

But to her surprise, Chua ended up getting something bigger – a gold medal and shattering a SEA Games record after clocking 2:13.20 in the women’s 200 meter backstroke event besting the previous record of 2:13.64 set by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Anh Vien in the 2017 SEA Games.

“So as I touched the wall and saw that we broke the SEA Games record, I was really happy. More so, I was with Chloe Isleta who won the silver as well. In the history of the Philippines, the women's team never won as a one and two finish. So, me and Chloe were really happy and we celebrated. We we’re so happy that we couldn’t sleep that night. It was just a very fun experience and we’re very grateful for the results,” Chua said.

After going through a rough patch, Chua admits that she now has a different and better outlook as far as competing is concerned.

“Right now, I’m more positive with the way I approach my races. It’s not like before [when] I used to lack confidence. Never believed I can do it. I realized that I proved to myself that I am very much capable of being able to compete with other countries and that is something I also wanted to show homegrown talents back home – that local talents have what it takes to win as long as you put in the work that is required,” Chua explained.

Looking ahead, Chua is now shifting her focus on two potential stints – the World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023 in July and the Asian Games in September.

“We are looking into the Fukuoka World Championships in July. But as of now, they have not yet released the final lineup of swimmers who will be competing. And then in September, we also have the Asian Games,” the 23-year-old swimmer ended.