Wednesday, January 30, 2008 ABS-CBN new shows fail to beat rivals By Nelson C. Bagaforo
THREE shows debuted on ABS-CBN's primetime block on Monday, but all these failed to beat the competition in the ratings game, at least in Mega Manila.
But Kung Fu Kids, Lobo and Palos are out to give its rival shows on GMA Network -- Zaido, Kamandag and Marimar -- a good fight, each registering 20+ percent based on Monday's overnight ratings released by AGB Nielsen.
Kung Fu Kids, pitted against Zaido-Pulis Pangkalawakan, posted an overnight rating of 26.6 percent, but not enough to overpower Zaido's 28.9 percent.
Lobo, the long-delayed Angel Locsin starrer on ABS-CBN, appeared to have failed to excite televiewers when it was easily beaten by Kamandag, top billed by her former co-star on GMA Network Richard Gutierrez.
Angel, who figured in a controversy after she left GMA Network last year, used to dominate primetime television with her Kapuso shows, such as Mulawin -- she top billed with Richard -- Darna, Majika and Asian Treasures. All these shows were winners in the ratings game.
But Richard's Kamandag is too much for Angel's Lobo.
Angel's first show on Kapamilya, pairing her with Piolo Pascual, did not even reach the 30 percent mark when it started airing on Monday.
Kamandag's 33.1 percent overnight rating was far ahead as compared to Lobo's 27.7 percent, a very low figure as compared to viewers ratings posted by Angel's shows on GMA -- all of which reached the 30+ mark.
GMA Network, on the other hand, has found a new "primetime queen" in Marian Rivera, picked to play the lead role in the Filipino version of popular Mexican telenovela Marimar.
The role was first offered to Angel Locsin, who junked it when she decided to transfer to Kapamilya Network.
Marimar, which catapulted Marian to become the "new primetime queen", proved its dominance in primetime television when it topped the ratings game on Monday, thus beating its rival show on ABS-CBN, the action-packed Palos.
Marimar posted a high 36.8 percent overnight rating as compared to Palos' 23.6 percent.
