In terms of profit and audience share, the closure of GMA Network’s biggest rival ABS-CBN has massively benefitted the former.
Per September 2021 records, the GMA Network has recorded a 54% spike in profits. It’s due to its increase in revenue and expenditure control.
As the competition in free TV loosened up due to the absence of ABS-CBN, GMA Network rose above the situation and was also able to gather new advertisers.
Even though ABS-CBN was able to partner with ZOE TV to produce A2Z, this has not adversely impacted GMA , according to the chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon.
For its audience reach, considering the January to September 2021 data from Nielsen Philippines, the Network now has an estimated 82 million viewers that equate to 97% total viewership nationwide.
Its reach was even sustained by another free TV channel of the network, GTV, that formerly known as GMA News TV.
GMA Network also strengthened its reach on digital platforms via the Heart of Asia, Hallypop, and I Heart Movies that channels.
Despite the slow return of some ABS-CBN shows, Gozon remains optimistic that GMA Network will be able to maintain its lead against other networks because of their sustained expansion and innovation.
“I have to put our modesty aside. I have to say that even before the ABS-CBN shutdown, GMA was already the number one free TV station in the Philippines, and after ABS-CBN was shut down, we continued to improve our reach and content in all aspects,” Gozon said.
“And so we feel that we remain ready for the competition as before,” he added.
