An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media

Friendly Results

KLRT-TV, Channel 16, found a friend in "Friends," the syndicated NBC sitcom that's brought solid numbers to the station's afternoon lineup.

Chuck Spohn, vice president and general manager of Clear Channel Broadcasting of San Antonio, which owns KLRT and KASN-TV, Channel 38, said the show performed well in its first ratings book.

"We do a lot of projected ratings and so on, and I think we've definitely fulfilled what we thought we would do," he said.

The show, which airs at 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, hauled in impressive numbers of women and tied other stations' newscasts in other demographics.

"The share of women 18-49 grew 140 percent," he said. "So it was a 5 share in that time period last year, now it's up to a 12."

"Friends" doubled the number of women 18-49 watching the news on KARK-TV, Channel 4, outdrawing the newscast's 2 rating with a 4. Among men 18-49, "Friends" tied KARK's and KTHV-TV, Channel 11's newscasts, Spohn said.

KLRT's 10 p.m. installment of "Friends" also did well, he said....