Some local shows remain strong, rating-wise, despite the continued decline in traditional television’s overall viewership.
Television remained the most popular mode of content consumption for Filipinos in 2022. That’s for sure, despite several reports that overall viewership for traditional television has suffered a steep decline since the onset of the pandemic.
The trend is likely to continue in the coming years, as Filipinos gradually adapt to the changing local entertainment landscape. In spite of this, newly produced local TV dramas ruled the rating chart, proving that television remains king despite the threat of streaming platforms.
As GMA Network remained unrivaled by any TV station in terms of nationwide coverage, new Kapuso shows unsurprisingly dominated the chart for highest-rated television debuts this year. According to the data presented by Nielsen Philippines, the following are the Top 20 highest-rated pilot episodes in 2022.
Dubbed as GMA Network’s ‘dambuhalaserye’, Ruru Madrid-starrer, Lolong, occupies the top of our list, with its pilot episode hitting 17.7% on July 4, according to the data presented by Nielsen Philippines. The series pretty much kept the dominance of its timeslot, only getting dislodged a few times by ABS-CBN’s FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. The historical portal-fantasy drama, Maria Clara at Ibarra, pulled off a pilot episode rating of 15.1%, last October 3, making it the second highest-rated debut this year.
The record-breaking success of Sanya Lopez’s first solo primetime starrer, First Yaya, prompted GMA Network to do a sequel in 2022. First Lady debuted on February 14. The show was able to post an impressive pilot rating of 14.3%, but it notably dropped by nearly 10% from its predecessor’s all-time high rating of 24%.
In the fourth position is the Filipino version of the South Korean blockbuster reality program Running Man, which launched on September 3 with a 14.1 people rating. Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, a real-life couple and Kapuso primetime royalty appeared in the weekend sitcom Jose and Maria’s Bonggang Villa.
The sports drama and Kylie Padilla-starrer, Bolera, achieved a 12.7% pilot rating last May 30, placing the show sixth on the chart. In 7th place, the second season of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr’s Agimat Ng Agila debuted on January 29. The episode posted an impressive 11.8 rating.
ABS-CBN’s highly-anticipated adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s Darna debuted on August 15. It was projected to keep its predecessor’s strong viewership in its time slot. Its 10.5% pilot episode rating was already impressive, but it slid downhill and even slumped to an all-time low of 6.1%. That said, the series ranks eighth on our list.
GMA Network’s murder-mystery drama, Widow’s Web ruled its prime time slot from debut to finale. The series impressed with a 10.4% pilot people rating on February 28. Ranking 10th and 11th are Kapuso shows, False Positive, and Start-Up PH. Both shows rated 9.6% on their pilot episodes, according to Nielsen.
Other than Darna, two other Kapamilya shows made it to the Top 20, despite the network’s limited free television reach. KathNiel’s 2 Good 2 Be True and Jodi Sta. Maria’s award-winning The Broken Marriage Vow, rated 8.0% and 6.5% on their pilot episodes, ranking 13th and 19th-20th, respectively.
GMA Network’s collaboration with Quantum Films, What We Could Be, clinched the 12th spot, after posting a 9.3% pilot rating. Afternoon dramas, Nakarehas Na Puso and Unica Hija are both strong at the 14th and 15th spots, respectively. The Jean Garcia-starrer posted a 7.6% pilot rating on September 26, while Kate Valdez’s Unica Hija, pulled off a 7.3% people rating on its November 7 debut.
Two installments of the Mano Po Legacy series, made it to the Top 20, with Bianca Umali’s Her Big Boss and Barbie Forteza’s Family Fortune, placing 16th-17th and 18th, and posting a pilot rating of 7.0% and 6.9%, respectively. Elle Villanueva and Derrik Monasterio’s sexy drama, Return to Paradise, ties with Her Big Boss, while Gabbi Garcia’s Love You Stranger, completes the Top 20, with its 6.5% pilot rating.
