From the pigeonhole:

GMA Network further strengthened its lead in Mega Manila ratings over its rival network for the first month of 2010.

Based on latest TV household population projections from AGB Nielsen, the expanded Mega Manila coverage accounts for 55 percent of all television households in Urban Philippines. Moreover, Mega Manila ratings are now being generated from a bigger panel of 800 TV households.

According to data from AGB Nielsen, GMA Network posted a total day (6 a.m.-12 m.n.) average rating of 17.4% for all weekdays from Jan. 1 to 29 as compared to ABS-CBN’s 15.3% for Mega Manila households with ratings data from Jan. 24-29 based on available overnight ratings.

The Kapuso Network’s weekday primetime programs strengthened margins over competition which contributed to its improved block lead in the first month of the year. For the period of Jan. 25 to 29 alone, primetime programs “24 Oras,” “Darna,” “The Last Prince,” “Full House,” “StarStruck Shoutout” and “Queen Seon Deok” contributed to the 2.0 pt. lead in the weekday evening ratings across Mega Manila households with GMA getting 25.6% over ABS-CBN’s 23.6%.

For the same period, “24 Oras” beat “TV Patrol” by 3.2 rating points with an average of 28.6% versus the latter’s 25.4%. “Darna” posted a 32.5% average rating, a 3.3 point lead over “May Bukas Pa’s” 29.2%; “The Last Prince” beat its counterpart (“Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”) with 30.8% versus 29.7%; “StarStruck Shoutout” garnered 24.9% versus the 19.2% of “Boys Over Flowers.” “Queen Seon Deok” posted an average of 22.2% versus “Boys Over Flowers’” 19.2%. “Full House” as well narrowed the lead of its counterpart (“PBB Double Up”) to only 0.4 % for the said period.

The weekday ratings also showed that GMA steadily increased its lead in all day parts for the past three weeks. Hence, resulting to a consistently increasing total day average lead week to week where GMA posted a 1.3 point lead for Jan. 11 to 15, 2.4 points for Jan. 18 to 22 and a 3.0 point lead for Jan. 25 to 29.

With the launch of new programs to celebrate its 60th year, GMA Network expects to further widen its lead in the coming months.

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Stars join Dr. Vicki Belo’s beauty talk at the Podium

Dr. Victoria Belo recently gave an exclusive Belo Beauty 101 talk at the Podium, attended by the patients of Belo clinic and other VIP guests. The talk was meant to educate women about beauty routines, weight loss and anti-aging procedures.

Dr. Belo also discussed the clinic’s treatments and services, which are at par with international standards.

Adding glitter to the afternoon event were Belo endorsers such as Sam Milby, Christian Bautista, Anne Curtis, Donita Rose, Bing Loyzaga, Angelu de Leon and Toni Rose Gayda. Radio personality Grace Lee hosted the program.

TV host Butch Francisco gave a testimonial on the kind of procedures he does with the clinic to maintain his camera-ready looks.

To give women more reasons to be Belo Beautiful, a Louis Vuitton Damier Azur bag was raffled off to those who booked an appointment at Podium that day. Lucky recipient was Ursula Braza, while Katie Blanco won an Obagi transformation kit.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Feb. 9 go to former AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. who’s candidate for congressman in the 6th District of Pangasinan; famous singer-composer David Pomeranz, US-based former actress Edna Diaz, Ms. Lulu Lerma, Dr. Ernesto “Dodo” Acosta, Abel Aljama, Dr. Cielito Murvhy Cojuanco, Ma. Christina “Tintin” N. Tan, Jaycon Yaneza and grandson Dylan Gabriel Silan Belen of New York, USA. Happy wedding anniversary to Preben and Carol Nielsen.