The local TV industry, particularly the production of teleseryes and entertainment programs, has also been greatly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
To combat the spread of the dreaded disease, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a community quarantine in Metro Manila last March 12.
For this reason, ABS-CBN announced on Friday, March 13, that it will suspend the production of its drama and entertainment programs.
GMA-7 also followed suit with the suspension of tapings for its shows, announced on Saturday, March 14.
The suspension of teleserye and entertainment programs made a great impact in the programming of ABS-CBN and GMA-7.
ABS-CBN temporarily stopped the airing of some of its programs and replaced them with old shows.
The Kapamilya network replaced its prime-time programs starting March 16, while the afternoon block continued with its regular programming.
Starting March 18, GMA-7 will stop airing some of its afternoon and prime-time programs to make way for its old shows.
This means that the week of March 9 to 13 is the last full week that both networks followed their respective regular programming schedule before suspending the production of drama and entertainment programs.
Here are the comparative ratings of ABS-CBN and GMA-7's afternoon programs from March 9 to 13 based on the two leading ratings providers: AGB Nielsen and Kantar Media.
Take note that this article focuses on the programs aired on the afternoon blocks of the two networks: GMA Afternoon Prime and ABS-CBN Kapamilya Gold.
MAGKAAGAW VS. IT'S SHOWTIME
Based on AGB Nielsen NUTAM data, Magkaagaw won in the ratings game over the last 45 minutes of ABS-CBN's variety program, It's Showtime.
Magkaagaw runs from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m., while It's Showtime airs from 12:15 to 3:30 p.m.
Magkaagaw is top-billed by Sunshine Dizon, Klea Pineda, Sheryl Cruz, and Jeric Gonzales.
Starting March 18, Magkaagaw went off the air following the implementation of a community quarantine in Luzon.
It was replaced by Sunshine's former afternoon program Ika-6 Na Utos.
| AGB RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Magkaagaw | 7.0% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.4% |
| It's Showtime | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 6.0% |
According to Kantar ratings, Magkaagaw also prevailed in its timeslot over the last 45 minutes of It's Showtime.
| KANTAR RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Magkaagaw | 16.3% | 17.4% | 15.4% | 16.6% | 17.8% |
| It's Showtime | 14.4% | 14.8% | 14.7% | 13.6% | 13.8% |
PRIMA DONNAS VS. LOVE THY WOMAN
AGB Nielsen data showed that ABS-CBN's Love Thy Woman, starring Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, and Yam Concepcion, lost to GMA-7's consistent top-rating program, Prima Donnas.
Prima Donnas is top-billed by Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan, and Sofia Pablo, along with Katrina Halili, Wendell Ramos, James Blanco, and Aiko Melendez.
Prima Donnas will continue airing until March 18. Starting March 19, Ika-6 Na Utos will take over the timeslot of Prima Donnas.
Kim's Love Thy Woman, on the other hand, will continue its regular run this week.
| AGB RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Prima Donnas | 8.1% | 8.3% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 9.9% |
| Love Thy Woman | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.7% |
Prima Donnas also beat the ratings of Love Thy Woman, according to Kantar Media.
| KANTAR RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Prima Donnas | 18.6% | 18.3% | 18.8% | 20.4% | 19.3% |
| Love Thy Woman | 12.3% | 14.0% | 14.0% | 14.1% | 14.4% |
BILANGIN ANG BITUIN SA LANGIT VS. SANDUGO
GMA-7's remake of Nora Aunor's movie Bilangin Ang Bituin sa Langit prevailed in the ratings game against its rival program, Sandugo, according to AGB Nielsen. This Kapuso show is top-billed by Mylene Dizon, Kyline Alcantara, and Nora herself.
Sandugo, an action drama starring Ejay Falcon and Aljur Abrenica, is down to its final week.
Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit will continue its regular run until it finishes airing all of its pre-taped episodes.
| AGB RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit | 6.2% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 6.9% |
| Sandugo | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
Sandugo lost to Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit for the whole week, according to Kantar Media.
| AGB RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit | 12.6% | 13.1% | 13.4% | 14.8% | 14.1% |
| Sandugo | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.8% | 12.2% | 13.1% |
WOWOWIN VS. PAMILYA KO
Based on AGB Nielsen data, ABS-CBN's early prime-time series, Pamilya Ko, only won for one day against the last 45 minutes of GMA-7's variety program, Wowowin.
Hosted by Willie Revillame, Wowowin runs from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., while Pamilya Ko starts its run at 5:45 p.m.
Wowowin won the ratings game from March 9 to 12, while Pamilya Ko registered a higher TV rating on March 13.
Pamilya Ko is top-billed by Sylvia Sanchez, Joey Marquez, and JM de Guzman.
This family drama series Pamilya Ko was temporarily taken off the air on Monday, March 16. The show that took over its timeslot was the 2011 inspirational drama series 100 Days To Heaven starring Coney Reyes, Jodi Sta. Maria, and Xyriel Manabat.
| AGB RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Wowowin | 6.6% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Pamilya Ko | 6.0% | 5.6% | 5.7% | 5.1% | 6.8% |
According to Kantar Media, Pamilya Ko won against the last 45 minutes of Wowowin in the ratings game for four days: March 9, 10, 12, and 13.
Willie Revillame's Wowowin won against Pamilya Ko on March 11.
| KANTAR RATINGS | March 9 | March 10 | March 11 | March 12 | March 13 |
| Wowowin | 13.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% | 11.2% | 11.8% |
| Pamilya Ko | 13.7% | 13.0% | 12.7% | 13.2% | 14.1% |