GMA Network kept its lead in viewer-rich Mega Manila in April – on the back of a strong line-up of afternoon and primetime programs, according to survey results from the more widely recognized TV ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen Philippines.

In a statement, GMA Network said it posted an average audience share of 34.6 percent, 0.9 percentage points higher than competition’s 33.7 percent (data from April 25-30 are based on overnight ratings). April includes the Holy Week, where lower viewing levels were recorded.

During the said month, GMA had 6 entries in the list of overall top 10 programs. The fantasy series The Last Prince and the first “kantaserye” in the country, Diva, figured strongly in the top five.

The longest running noontime show, Eat Bulaga, shared the top spot with competition's Showtime among daytime programs, while GMA’s afternoon drama soaps likewise made it to the top ten list of daytime programs.

Meanwhile, GMA Network’s News and Public Affairs programs remained the viewers’ choice in Mega Manila. GMA News and Public Affairs is set to deliver the biggest, most comprehensive 2010 election coverage dubbed, Eleksyon 2010.

The Network also increased its lead in another key area in April - Urban North/Central Luzon – where GMA posted an average audience share of 40.6 percent, higher by 8.4 percentage points than ABS-CBN’s 32.2 percent (data up to April 24 only).

The gap was higher than GMA’s lead of 7 percentage points over ABS-CBN in Urban North/Central Luzon in March. GMA Network chairman Felipe L. Gozon expects that the Network’s lead in TV ratings will increase with the launch of new programs in the coming months.

“We are launching new programs that our viewers will surely enjoy watching. With these new shows, we are hopeful that the gap in TV ratings will once again widen,” Gozon said.

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