The latest ratings survey of TNS (Taylor Nelson Sofres) bore out ABS-CBN's lead in the Mega Manila area.

ABS-CBN's email bulletin to print and web publications underscored: "More Filipinos tuned in to ABS-CBN shows in all parts of the country from sign-on to sign-off, weekdays to weekend in February 2010."

The claim was backed by the data released by TNS this February, where the Kapamilya network has captured Mega Manila TV ratings with an audience share of 38.2 percent, beating rival station GMA-7's 38.1 percent.

For the same period last year, ABS-CBN generated 34 percent, thus giving the network a 4.2 percent leap last month. GMA-7's share, however, shrunk by 4.9 percent given its 43 percent mark in February 2009.

ABS-CBN Head of Research and Business Analysis Vivian Tin attributed such feat to its increasing audience share in Metro Manila, beating competition by four percentage points last month. 

Comparing the Metro Manila figures from 2009 to this year, ABS-CBN's audience share increased from 36 percent in February last year to 40 percent last month, whereas GMA-7's numbers  experienced a drop—from 40 percent in the same period last year to 36 percent in February 2010.

The email of ABS-CBN's Corporate Communications' department also stated that: "Overall, ABS-CBN continues to be the national leader by reaching more Filipino households in all parts of the country, making it the top choice of advertisers for its wide reach.  ABS-CBN's audience share in February 2010 hit 48 percent as compared to GMA's 32 percent."

THE TOP PROGRAMS. The ratings results of TNS also showed that seven of the top 10 most watched weekday programs nationwide belong to ABS-CBN.

The phenomenal primetime series May Bukas Pa, starring Zaijian "Santino" Jaranilla, topped the list with an average rating of 41.8 percent in February, and its finale generating a whopping 47.3 percent.

As the miracle boy bid farewell, the comic book adaptation of Agua Bendita continued the success by coming in second, hitting a high of 38.6 percent.

ABS-CBN's award-winning news program TV Patrol World, on the other hand, continues its supremacy as the number one newscast in the country, garnering an average rating of 33.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the hit reality program Pinoy Big Brother Double Up, which gave birth to the so-called prince and princess of the masses Jason Francisco and Melissa "Melai" Cantiveros, came in sixth with an average rating of 28.1 percent.

"Melason in Love," which picked up from the success of Melai and Jason's tandem, changed the face of pre-noon programming with its 18.1 percent rating for its pilot episode. It had a dominoe effect on the hit talent-variety show Showtime, which soared to unprecedented levels since the reality show's launch.

Other programs who that made it to the top 10 were Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (35.1%), Habang May Buhay (31.5%), and Rubi (25.6%).

ABS-CBN's programs also swept the top 10 slots in the TNS' overall weekend TV ratings survey.