Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Supreme Court has dismissed the complaint of GMA Network, Inc. against ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation over alleged defamatory statements accusing GMA of manipulating a TV ratings survey.</p><p>In the decision of the 3rd Division, the aired statements of ABS-CBN hosts in 2007 are qualified privileged communication and constitute a fair and true report that GMA personnel visited homes to influence a TV ratings survey.</p><p>The court also noted that as a broadcasting corporation committed to providing the public with timely information, ABS-CBN had the responsibility to report on the issue.</p><p>The court further said there was clearly no malice in its airing of the statements in question, as these were supported by documentary evidence.</p><p>“Undoubtedly, a review of the utterances aired on ABS-CBN refutes GMA&#x27;s claim that these were deliberately and maliciously intended to &#x27;defame GMA and ridicule it before the public,&#x27;” the court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao. </p><p>The court noted in the decision that ABS-CBN had hired AGB Nielsen to supply TV ratings data for Mega Manila and other urban regions nationwide. </p><p>The contract required that the locations of the sample households, called Panel Homes, be kept strictly confidential to prevent tampering or interference by other media parties.</p><p>ABS-CBN then received reports that individuals reportedly hired by GMA contacted some Panel Homes to influence viewing data by convincing residents to watch GMA programs, in exchange for monthly incentives of P500 in cash and P300 worth of groceries.</p><p>The SC further noted that a GMA employee in Iloilo testified that the station manager ordered him and six others to find the Panel Homes and convince the residents to watch GMA programs in exchange for monetary incentives.</p><p>The court also stated in the decision that AGB Nielsen’s General Manager, Maya Reforma, admitted that the Panel Homes had been tampered. </p><p>ABS-CBN then aired Reforma’s statements, prompting GMA to file a complaint for damages before the Regional Trial Court against ABS-CBN for deliberately twisting Reforma’s statements.</p><p>ABS-CBN also filed counterclaims for damages.</p><p>The RTC dismissed GMA’s complaint as well as ABS-CBN’s counterclaims.</p><p>The decision of the RTC was then upheld by the Court of Appeals.</p><p>The SC said it agrees with the CA.</p><p>“While ABS-CBN anchors its counterclaims on the &#x27;baselessness&#x27; of GMA&#x27;s complaint, the fact remains that GMA was able to establish a cause of action against it based on the notion that the statements aired on its programs were defamatory,” the SC said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/25/sc-rules-gma-talents-in-2014-labor-case-are-regular-employees-0950">SC rules GMA talents in 2014 labor case are regular employees</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/208K1YK7k9M?si=KDxeHBTqf_N6eqZY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Supreme Court has dismissed the complaint of GMA Network, Inc. against ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation over alleged defamatory statements accusing GMA of manipulating a TV ratings survey.</p>

The Supreme Court has dismissed the complaint of GMA Network, Inc. against ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation over alleged defamatory statements accusing GMA of manipulating a TV ratings survey.

SC affirms dismissal of GMA complaint vs. ABS-CBN over TV ratings

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SC affirms dismissal of GMA complaint vs. ABS-CBN over TV ratings

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2026 05:48 PM PHT

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