ABS-CBN bags top ratings in Dec.

Lopez-led ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. ended 2009 on a high note, as its pro-grams dominated the national urban TV audience measurement (NUTAM) survey conducted last month by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Media Research Philippines.

Based on the TNS report for Dec. 1 to 31, seven out of the Top 10 weekday programs came from ABS-CBN, led by the nightly drama series May Bukas Pa.

The TV program received a national rating of 34% to return to the top of the list after dropping to second place in October and November. This prompted network executives to extend the run of the show until March.

May Bukas Pa began airing on ABS-CBN in February last year. It was initially intended to run for only eight weeks, but it was extended to run for a full year after garnering good ratings. It became the most watched TV program nationwide for most of 2009.

Former ratings leader, primetime news program TV Patrol World, received a total household rating of 33.9% last month to settle for second place.

In third place is the Filipino version of the Korean drama series Lovers in Paris. The ABS-CBN show scored an average monthly rating of 30.2%. The program, which features Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion, ended its 10-week run on Dec. 11.

The drama series Dahil May Isang Ikaw was in 4^th place, with a rating of 29.6%. The show will air its final episode this Friday, after a run of two and a half months.

In 5^th place was ABS-CBN’s reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother Double Up with 29%, followed by the teen drama series Katorse, 28.7%.

Katorse aired its final episode last Friday, givingway to a new drama series called Tanging Yaman, which stars Erich Gonzales, Enchong Dee and EJ Falcon It premiered last night.

GMA Netework makes the list with the nightly fantasy series Darna, receiving an average rating of 27.2% to settle at 7^th place.

Two other GMA shows follow: Stairway to Heaven with a rating of 26.1% at No. 8; and Full House, 23.4%, at No. 9.

GMA hopes to firm up its primetime programming line-up with its new fantasy series, The Last Prince, starring the network’s bankable contract stars Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal. The show began airing last night.

Rounding out the list of the Top 10 weekday programs for December was the ABS-CBN noontime show Wowowee with 23.3%

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