GMA News and Public Affairs' “The Obama Visit” is the most watched coverage of the first state visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines on April 28 and 29 (based on overnight data) in NUTAM (National Urban Television Audience Measurement), Urban Luzon, and Mega Manila, according to the industry's leading ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
In NUTAM, the two-day coverage posted a household rating average of 13.1 percent, with 2.2 points ahead of the 10.9 percent recorded by ABS’ Special News Coverage.
“The Obama Visit” registered an even bigger lead in the viewer-rich area of Urban Luzon with an average 14.4 percent for the two-day period; beating ABS-CBN’s 10.2 percent with 4.2 points. GMA’s special coverage, likewise, triumphed in Mega Manila with 15.7 percent, up by 6.1 points from ABS-CBN’s 9.6 percent. Urban Luzon and Mega Manila account for 77 and 60 percent, respectively, of the TV household population in the country.
Anchored by GMA News pillars Mike Enriquez, Vicky Morales and Arnold Clavio, “The Obama Visit” special coverage followed the US President’s first state visit to the Philippines, from the moment he arrived via the Air Force One in NAIA, the highly anticipated joint press conference of U.S. President Obama and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, to the state dinner in Malacañang on April 28, and his departure to the US the next day.
GMA News’ comprehensive coverage on Obama’s visit also discussed the controversial Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the recently signed agreement between the Philippines and the United States that will allow US troops to increase rotational presence in the country.