2009 was a great year for the Kapamilya and Kapuso networks. Both ABS-CBN and GMA-7 offered highly-anticipated shows that claimed ratings supremacy. A new contender to the ratings war, TV5, also emerged as a worthy competitor this year.

Cutthroat competition was so fierce that the list of top shows ranked by market researchers TNS and AGB Nielsen, and published here in PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), tended to vary from week to week.

Over at GMA-7, Marian Rivera's Darna proved to be a strong force in the primetime block. Other primetime offerings like the remakes of Stairway to Heaven and LaLola, the second season of Survivor Philippines, and a roster of other shows gained good ratings as well.

At ABS-CBN, meanwhile, primetime viewers were treated to new shows like Tayong Dalawa and May Bukas Pa. The year's version of reality show Pinoy Big Brother, and showbiz news program SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon, also claimed good ratings. Other shows reached top ten status as well.

Daytime ratings in 2009 was also competitive. TNS and AGB often did not agree on whether it was Eat Bulaga! or Wowowee that was in the lead. Such was also the case with both networks' daytime soap operas.

News programs like GMA-7's 24 Oras and Saksi, and ABS-CBN's TV Patrol World and Bandila, also gained a lot of viewers from the tumultuous events of the year, such as typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, the death of former President Corazon Aquino, the Maguindanao massacre, and various corruption allegations against Malacañang officials.

But new contender TV5 was the home of innovative new shows. There were the "painful" gag show Ogags, the funny primetime "comedy show" Kiddie Kwela, the whatever-goes comedy show Front Act, and the late-night magazine news program TEN: The Evening News. TV5's Talentadong Pinoy, hosted by Ryan Agoncillo, also ruled the Saturday primetime block.

Here are some of the television shows that topped the ten rankings of TV shows by TNS and AGB in 2009, and their numbers during their period of supremacy.

DARNA. The Marian Rivera starrer beat all primetime shows from August 9 to 15 with an average rating of 35.6, according to AGB.

MAY BUKAS PA. The ABS-CBN primetime soap opera posted a high rating of 39.4 percent on May 4, beating all primetime shows, according to TNS.

ZORRO. The GMA-7 remake of the popular classic story of a masked hero hit 33.4 percent on March 27, leading the pack of primetime shows. (AGB)

TAYONG DALAWA. The ABS-CBN drama shared primetime supremacy with May Bukas Pa during the last week of June and first week of July (AGB).

LUNA MYSTIKA. Heart Evangelista's fantasy series on GMA-7 hit a near-40s rating during the second week of January, beating all primetime shows (AGB).

WOWOWEE. Willie Revillame's noontime show led all daytime shows from May 4-7 (TNS).

EAT BULAGA!. The long-running noontime show beat all daytime shows on January 12-14 (AGB).