GMA News Leads Viewership in Coverage of President Marcos Jr.'s Fifth SONA

Filipinos overwhelmingly chose GMA News as their primary source for coverage of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2026. The network's extensive multi-platform reporting outperformed all competing television networks, according to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data.

The special coverage, anchored by award-winning journalist Pia Arcangel, delivered trusted, real-time reporting and in-depth analysis across television, digital, radio, and regional platforms. It provided Filipinos with comprehensive and authoritative news from the early morning until late at night.

Nielsen data showed that "SONA 2026: A GMA News Special Coverage," which aired on GMA and was simulcast on GTV, achieved a combined 5.6 percent people rating in National Urban Philippines. This rating translates to an estimated 2.45 million viewers. GMA alone registered a 4.7 percent rating, or about 2.1 million viewers, while the GTV simulcast contributed a 0.9 percent rating, equivalent to roughly 381,000 viewers.

In comparison, competing programs such as TV5/RPTV/One PH's "Frontline Express (FIFTH SONA: State of the Nation Address)" recorded a combined 1.2 percent people rating, and ABS-CBN News' coverage on ALLTV/A2Z/Kapamilya Channel posted a 0.7 percent rating, underscoring GMA's dominance in television viewership for the event.

GMA News also led online viewership. Its YouTube livestream of the SONA 2026 special coverage amassed 1,190,471 views as of the morning of July 29, surpassing ANC's livestream with 1,184,565 views and ABS-CBN News' livestream with 762,601 views. The coverage was simultaneously livestreamed on GMA News' YouTube channel and Facebook page, expanding its reach.

The day-long broadcast began at dawn with "Unang Balita" on "Unang Hirit," setting the stage for the President's address. The flagship newscast "24 Oras" highlighted key points from the speech and featured special reports analyzing the Marcos Jr. administration's challenges. Throughout the day, viewers also tuned in to GTV's "Dobol B TV," "Balitanghali," and "State of the Nation," as well as the late-night newscast "Saksi."

GMA News ensured real-time updates online through its website, www.gmanetwork.com/news, and official social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok. This multi-platform approach allowed audiences to follow developments live and engage with content across devices.

Regional audiences were served by GMA Regional TV, which provided updates through flagship local newscasts such as "GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon," "Balitang Bisdak," "Ratsada Balita," and "One Mindanao." These programs were also accessible via the GMA RTV Facebook page and YouTube channel, ensuring localized coverage nationwide.

On radio, Super Radyo DZBB 594 aired its "Super Radyo DZBB Special Coverage: SONA 2026," with portions simulcast on Dobol B TV on GTV. The special coverage extended to other Super Radyo stations across the country, including Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Palawan, General Santos, and Kalibo, reaching listeners nationwide.

Global Filipino audiences remained connected through live broadcasts and real-time updates on GMA Pinoy TV and GMA News TV, as well as their respective Facebook pages, allowing overseas Filipinos to follow the event closely.

GMA Network's comprehensive and coordinated coverage of the 2026 SONA reaffirmed its position as the leading news source for Filipinos during the country's most significant political event. For continued updates, viewers and readers are encouraged to visit www.gmanetwork.com and follow Kapuso PR on social media platforms.