TransAsia domestic flight with 58 onboard crashes in Taiwan river

A domestic flight with 58 people onboard crashed into a river in Taipei, Taiwan on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 with 17 people rescued and dozens trapped inside, according to news reports.

TransAsia plane was on a domestic flight when it hit a road bridge before ploughing into the river.

Reports said that TransAsia ATR 72-600 airplane hit a road bridge before plunging into Keelung River. Rescuers were trying to reach the trapped passengers.

Television images showed rescuers standing on large sections of broken wreckage trying to pull passengers out of the plane with ropes. Those who were rescued including two children were put in dinghies and taken to the shore.

Some were then loaded on stretchers and all 17 rescued have been taken to hospital, reports said.

The accident happened just before 11:00 am (0300 GMT), a few minutes after the plane took off from Taipei's Songshan airport en route to the island of Kinmen.

In July last year 48 people died when a TransAsia Airways plane crashed amid stormy weather in Taiwan's Penghu archipelago.

Reports and images courtesy of AP.

ABS-CBN wins TV ratings game vs GMA-7 in January 2015

MANILA, Philippines - The country's biggest television network ABS-CBN wins January 2015 ratings game as it remains the most watched TV network with an average national audience share of 42%, or six points higher compared to GMA-7's 36%, based on data from Kantar Media.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 in urban and rural homes that represent 100% of the total Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen reportedly has only 1,980 homes based solely in urban areas that represent only 57% of the Philippine TV viewing population.

Kantar said that ABS-CN continues its lead in key territories such as Balance Luzon (all areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila) where it got an average total day audience share of 45%, in the Visayas with 56%, and Mindanao with 48%. GMA, on the other hand, garnered 36%, 26%, and 31%, respectively.

ABS-CBN continues its stronghold in the primetime (6PM-12MN) block with an average audience share of 47%, or 14 points higher than GMA (33%). The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively.

The supremacy of Kapamilya network’s Primetime Bida was strengthened by its top-caliber drama series such as “Dream Dad” (25.8%), “Forevermore” (24%), and “Two Wives” (18.9%).

Also reigning in the hearts of TV viewers was ABS-CBN’s special coverage of Pope Francis’ visit last January 15-19. “Thank You sa Malasakit: Pope Francis sa Pilipinas” got an average national TV rating of 13.2%, which is greater than GMA’s “Ang People’s Pope sa Pilipinas: A GMA News Special Coverage” (10.9%).

The Kapamilya network’s live coverage of the 63rd Miss Universe beauty pageant also won in the ratings game with a national TV rating of 16.8%.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s newest feel-good daytime TV series “Oh My G” was off to a good start as the Janella Salvador-starrer scored an average national TV rating of 14.4%, compared to its rival program on GMA “The Ryzza Mae Show” (7.5%).

Also included in the top 10 programs in the country for January are “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (25.5%), “TV Patrol” (23.7%), “Rated K” (22.2%), “Home Sweetie Home” (21.9%), “Wansapanataym” (21.8%), “The Voice of the Philippines” (20.7%), and “Mga Kwento Ni Marc Logan” (18.9%).

Kantar Media is a leading television (TV) audience measurement provider with capabilities in gathering TV viewing data in both digital and analog platforms. It is a multinational market research group that specializes in audience measurement in more than 80 countries, has 26 TV networks, ad agencies, and pan-regional networks subscribing to its ratings services.

Among its current subscribers are ABS-CBN, NBN, Sky Cable, J. Romero and Associates, 720ConsumerConnect, Starcom, OMD, PhD, Mediacom, Mindshare, MEC, Maxus, Universal McCann, Wellmade Manufacturing Corporation, Brand Ideas, and MPG Havas. They also include pan-regional networks like CSM Media Inc., Fox International Channels, Star HK, Discovery, AXN, HBO, MTV, Sony Pictures Television International, Celestial Tiger, and A&E Television Network.

Among these, the following subscribe to both urban and rural TV audience measurement: ABS-CBN, Brand Ideas, MPG Havas, and 720ConsumerConnect.