GMA Network, Inc. claims that it has maintained its TV rating lead in viewer-rich Mega Manila in March, according to AGB Nielsen Media Research (Philippines).

Last month, the network posted an average overall audience share of 36.3 percent in Mega Manila, up by 0.9 percentage points versus ABS-CBN’s 35.4, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The steady performance of GMA Network’s primetime programs, as well as the high ratings of new shows launched in March, propelled its overall success in TV ratings for the month,” it added.

Based on AGB Nielsen’s 2010 TV household population projections, Mega Manila TV households now make up 55 percent of the National Urban Philippines TV population and are generated from a bigger panel of 800 TV households.

GMA Network earlier claimed to have kept its lead in Mega Manila TV ratings for all weekdays of February.

But rival ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. said it earned the top rating spot in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in February, based on data from research outfit Taylor Nelson Sofres or TNS.

It also said it continued to be the national leader with an audience share of 48% in February, compared with GMA Network’s 32%.

GMA Network uses data from AGB Nielsen. ABS-CBN moved to TNS after it sued AGB Nielsen for allegedly failing to comply with requests to investigate alleged cheating and data tampering in TV ratings.

Based on the AGB Nielsen survey for March, including specials, 15 GMA Network programs made it to the top 30 programs. Manny Pacquiao’s latest fight against Joshua Clottey topped all programs, while the network’s two primetime fantasy series — Panday Kids and The Last Prince — were also in the top 5.

Newly launched reality sitcom Pepito Manaloto, which debuted late last month, ranked sixth overall. Another primetime hit, Diva, took the seventh spot, the survey showed.

GMA Network’s banner newscast 24 Oras was the top news program, landing eighth on the list of top 30 overall programs. 24 Oras had an average rating of 26.4 points compared with TV Patrol World’s 24.1.

Meanwhile, the pilot telecast of Party Pilipinas last March 28 posted a TV rating of 15.5 points, higher than rival program ASAP XV’s average March rating of 14.4 points.

Meanwhile, among news and public affair programs, 24 Oras and Imbestigador ranked first and second, respectively, in the top 30 list. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, 24 Oras Weekend and Wish Ko Lang likewise made it to the top 10.

Q Channel 11 programs Misteryo, Balitanghali and True Stories also took spots in the top 30 list of news and public affair shows.