ABS-CBN Corporation widened its lead over rival TV stations in February with a 41% audience share on primetime (6 p.m.-12 mn).

Data from Kantar Media/ TNS show that ABS-CBN improved its primetime audience share last month to enjoy a 10- point lead over GMA Network’s 31% and more than twice the audience share of TV5’s 16%.

Leadership in primetime is important for a TV network because it has the most number of viewers. February’s figures show that “TV Patrol” continues to be the mostwatched news program with an average rating of 26.7% nationwide against “24 Oras” (20.5%) and “Willing Willie” (11%).

ABS-CBN primetime teleseryes “Mara Clara” (34.9%), “Mutya” (31.8%) and “Imortal” (26.4%) have beaten GMA’s “Dwarfina” (17.8%), “Machete” (17%) and “I Heart You, Pare” (16.2%) nationwide.

GMA Network lost its primetime leadership in February in Mega Manila, the area that includes viewer-rich Metro Manila and which the Kapuso network considers its stronghold. “Mara Clara” (28%), “Mutya” (23.5%) and “Imortal” (22.1%) trounced “Dwarfina” (21.4%), “Machete” (20.2%) and “I Heart You, Pare” (20.6%).

On the top 10 list of mostwatched TV programs nationwide, ABS-CBN secured nine slots. “Mara Clara” (34.9%) topped the list followed by “Mutya” (31.8%), “Noah” (30%), “Pilipinas Got Talent” (28.6%), “TV Patrol” (26.7%), “Imortal” (26.4%), “Rated K” (23.9%), “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (22.5%) and “Goin’ Bulilit” (21.3%).

Overall, ABS-CBN remains the country’s number one TV network with a 36% audience share for the month of February, higher than GMA’s 35% and TV5’s 13%.

Industry sources say ABSCBN continues to be the most efficient for advertisers especially on primetime wherein most of the ad placements are made, while GMA’s core primetime offerings are less cost-efficient compared to ABS-CBN and TV5.

ABS-CBN generated net income of P2.9 billion for the first nine months of 2010 as it sustained into the third quarter the strong growth momentum in regular advertising revenues in the first semester. This profit level is more than double the net income of P1.3B in the first nine months of 2009.