For the first five months of 2011, GMA Network secured the top spot on the national ratings chart, according to data from the industry's widely trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Based on household data recorded in National Urban Philippines for the period January to May 31 (May 22 to 31 based on overnight readings), GMA garnered a 33.1 percent average, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 31.9 and TV5’s 15.2.

For May, GMA finished with 31 household share points–a competitive record driven by the Network’s strong performance in the afternoon block (12nn to 6pm) with 37.8 percent of the country’s viewing population attuned to GMA programs; as against ABS-CBN’s 26.6 percent.

GMA likewise aired the highest rated television special billed World Welterweight Championship The Pacquiao-Mosley boxing special, which landed on the top spot of overall top 30 programs nationwide. The bout, which aired May 8, recorded 61.9 household share points, skyrocketing to 77.2 share points during the actual fight.

The television trend also covered another key area, Total Urban Luzon, which makes up 77 percent of total television households nationwide. For the period January to May 31, GMA cornered 36.6 percent of the viewing household population in the said area, against ABS-CBN’s 27 points and TV5’s 16.9.

For May, GMA garnered 34.6 share points, bigger than ABS-CBN’s share of 28.2 points and TV5’s 17 points.

Including specials, there were 17 GMA programs in the list of overall top 30 programs in Urban Luzon this May. The Pacquiao-Mosley bout affixed its rank on the number one spot with 62.3 household share points.

In Mega Manila, an area particularly important to the market as it comprises the bulk of the country’s total television household population at 58 percent, GMA convincingly stood out among competitors with 37.6 household share points from January to May, higher by double digits than ABS-CBN’s 25.4 and TV5’s 17.7 share points.

For May, GMA scored 35.6 share points, way ahead of ABS-CBN’s 26.7 and TV5’s 17.9 points.

In the list of overall top 30 programs with specials in Mega Manila, 19 were from GMA. The Pacquiao-Mosley bout was at number one with 62.8 household share points, followed by the newly launched epicserye Amaya, starring GMA primetime queen Marian Rivera, which garnered 35.8 household share points.

Other GMA programs which launched in May, namely, Blusang Itim (starring Kylie Padilla), Andres de Saya (starring Cesar Montano and Iza Calzado), and Sisid (starring Jackie Rice), were all ratings winners relative to counterpart programs from ABS-CBN.

Blusang Itim premiered with 41.3 share points, almost double Summer Power‘s 22.6; Andres de Saya scored 32.8 household share points, higher than Wansapantaym‘s 22.4; while Sisid garnered 35.8 points, much higher than Frijolito‘s 18.9 share points.

The Nielsen TV Audience Measurement used by GMA is used by 21 companies including two other local networks, namely, TV5 and Solar Entertainment; Faulkner Media; CBN Asia; 13 advertising agencies and three regional clients. On the other hand, ABS-CBN is the only local major TV network reportedly subscribing to Kantar Media, formerly known as TNS.

In Mega Manila alone, the Nielsen TV Audience Measurement has a sample size of 880 homes as compared to Kantar Media’s 770 homes. Nationwide, Nielsen has a total sample size of 2,005 homes compared to the lower sample size of 1,370 utilized by Kantar Media.