ABS-CBN topped the national TV ratings in April, taking a double digit lead in primetime, which is the most important timeblock and when advertisers place most of its spot buys or commercial load.

Based on Kantar Media’s report, ABS-CBN continues to beat all networks on primetime with an audience share of 43 percent in April, or a 13 point lead over GMA Network’s 30%

ABS-CBN secured nine out of the ten most watched programs for April, excluding the Holy Week when advertisers discount the holidays in doing their media plan and local networks don’t do regular programming

“Mara Clara,” the country’s most-watched primetime teleserye for the past months, tied with weekend top-rater “Maalaala Mo Kaya” on the number one spot in April both with an average national rating of 32.5%

“Mutya,” on the other hand, claimed the second spot with 30.8% followed by Coco Martin starrer “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” (30.7%) and the country’s number one talent-reality show “Pilipinas Got Talent” (29.3%).

“TV Patrol” (25%), which recently delivered its successful coverages of the Royal Wedding between Prince William of Wales and commoner Catherine Middleton, and the beatification of Blessed John Paul II, remains to be the undisputed and most trusted primetime newscast in the country.

Other shows in the top ten are “Wansapanataym” (24%), “Rated K” (21.8%), and the recently concluded soap on vampires and werewolves in “Imortal” (21.5%).

Overall, ABS-CBN’s national audience share for April reached 36% vs GMA’s 34%.

Kantar Media started releasing its Philippine television audience measurement data in February 2009 with panels composed of 1,370 representative households covering urban Philippines and reporting on seven sectors namely the National Capital Region, North Luzon, Central Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Kantar Media’s current subscribers include ABS-CBN, NBN, Sky Cable, J. Romero and Associates, Adformatix, Starcom, OMD, PhD, Mediacom, Mindshare, MEC, Maxus, Universal McCann, and Wellmade Manufacturing Corporation. They also include pan-regional networks likes CSM Media Inc., Fox International Channels, Star HK, Discovery, AXN, HBO, MTV, and Sony Pictures Television International.

ABS-CBN shifted to Kantar Media/TNS after filing a case vs. AGB Nielsen Media Research for failing to comply with its request to investigate alleged cheating and data tampering in TV ratings. The case is still pending in court.

The consolidated net income of ABS-CBN Corporation, the country’s largest multimedia conglomerate, jumped by P1.5 billion or 87% to P3.2 billion in 2010, a record-breaking performance for the Kapamilya network. ABS-CBN delivered consolidated revenues of P32.2 billion from advertising and consumer sales, posting an increase of P7.3 billion or 30% year-on-year.