GMA Network Inc. (GMA) said on Friday that it ended 2012 on a positive note, leading other local free-to-air channels in full year nationwide TV ratings for the second consecutive year, according to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement (Nutam) data.

The network overtook its closest rival ABS-CBN based on Nutam in January 2011, and has since sustained nationwide ratings leadership.

The company said that for the period of January to December 2012 (December 16 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA scored an average total day household audience share of 34.4 percent, outscoring ABS-CBN’s 31.5 percent by 2.9 points and TV5’s 15.1 percent by 19.3 points.

GMA’s lead in overall nationwide ratings was driven mainly by its strong ratings performance in the afternoon block, where it led the competition by significant margins. In addition, GMA was also ahead of the other networks in the morning block.

GMA also led across all dayparts for the second straight year in the important areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which make up 77 percent and 59.5 percent of the total urban television households nationwide, respectively.

In Urban Luzon, GMA ruled over rival stations with a 38.2 percent average total day household audience share, ahead by 10.8 percent over ABS-CBN’s 27.4 percent and by 23.6 percent over TV5’s 14.6 percent average.

GMA also ended the year strongly in its bailiwick Mega Manila with an average total day household audience share of 39.2 percent, up 13.4 percent over ABS-CBN’s 25.8 percent and ahead by 24 points over TV5’s 15.2 percent.

This 2013, GMA is all set to roll out its new line-up of programs starting off with the fantasy drama Indio, the network’s most expensive drama program to date, this January. Indio is topbilled by Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and features some of the network’s biggest stars.

GMA subscribes to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement along with 22 other paying subscribers, including another local major television network (TV5), Faulkner Media, CBN Asia, 15 advertising agencies and four regional clients.

In Mega Manila, Nielsen has a sample size of 1,190 homes, while nationwide Nielsen has a sample size of 2,000 homes.