“Revenge has never been this wild”.
Basing from that line, one cannot deny how fierce and controversial Maja Salvador’s latest teleserye Wildflower is. And indeed based on how it was received by the Televiewers, the Ivy Aguas Effect is real.
Not only did the story tells about Ivy Aguas’ (Maja Salvador’s character) revenge for her family against the Ardientes, it also showed ABS-CBN’s revenge on the pre-primetime timeslot which was formerly lorded by GMA Network.
Trashing Willie Revillame’s Wowowin
Before its premiere, Television’s pre-primetime programming was ruled by GMA Network. For a number of months or even for the past couple of years, that timeslot is being held by a Kapuso program. Wowowin, since its inception to the daily afternoon schedule of GMA Network, has been a formidable force no Kapamilya program has ever reckoned. But when “Wildflower” came, the landscape has totally changed.
During its premier, last February 13, 2017, the Maja Salvador starrer gave Willie Revillame’s game show that any ABS-CBN primetime pre-primetime show wasn’t able to give. While “Wildflower” didn’t immediately showcased its ace during the 1st 3 episodes as “Wowowin” still managed to win in those days, the 4th and 5th day started “Wowowin’s” demise.
On its second week onwards, the Ivy Aguas effect was in full swing as it dominated big time, the “Wowowin” that previously ruled the airtime.
And not only did “Wildflower” beat its direct competition, it also soared in rating board reaching a stable ranking in 2nd and 3rd place.
Currently, “Wildflower” stays strong continuously beating “Wowowin” and still stable on the top 3 of daytime ratings.
Pulling TV Patrol’s ratings
Aside from knocking out “Wowowin”, “Wildflower” is also instrumental in pulling another Kapamilya up; “TV Patrol”.
From always being behind the Kapuso newscast “24 Oras”, “TV Patrol” has emerged on top on its competition on several occasions since the onset of Wildflower.
While it hasn’t fully defeated competition, the fact that “TV Patrol” has closed the gap and even surpassed 24 Oras numerous times is an indication that indeed Wildflower is a great pre-programming asset. And that feat was only achieved by TV Patrol when Wildflower came in, an achievement not reached by its predecessors.
Rich source of memes
Aside from sky-high ratings, Wildflower also made great influence and effect in social media. From being a consistent trending topic and talk of the town, Wildflower also drew people’s humor and creativity with all the memes created out of its most controversial scenes.
Pinoy’s creative juices have been up and running wild with Wildflower and Ivy Aguas.
And that is not a small thing because a program won’t make noise in social media if it is not interesting. And with all these memes that are making rounds on Twitter or on Facebook, showed how influential Wildflower or the Ivy Aguas is. And that also proved how effective the program is not only in touching or moving televiewer’s emotions but also in tapping Pinoy’s innate creative minds.
The success of a show is not only measured by the ratings it gets but by the effect, it gave to its viewers. And with the effect of Wildflower and Ivy Aguas, not calling it a success would be too much an understatement because the Ivy Aguas effect has not only changed the landscape of Philippine television but also infected many in their pre-primetime viewing habit.
ABOUT: By The Numbers is a weekly column written by Ron Mia (@rojan88 on Twitter, @akosirojan88 on IG), a blogger by night and Data Analyst by day. The column focuses on analyzing TV shows based on their survey numbers. A detailed, no holds barred analysis of what’s hot and what’s not in the world of television.
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