Extra news.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)

Here's an interesting tidbit from the recently released May Nielsen Media Research numbers that "Outtakes" discussed last week: KTHV-TV, Channel 11's, new 6:30 p.m. news did surprisingly well.

The new 30-minute newscast, which follows the CBS affiliate's 6 p.m. offering, garnered a 5.4 household rating in the market. Its demos also showed some strength, with a 3.7 rating for adults ages 25-54 and 4.7 among women of the same age group.

The newscast replaced "Extra," an entertainment news show. "Extra" managed only a 4 household rating for the market in May 2008 and a 2.3 rating for adults aged 25-54 and 2.9 among women.

"We went from the safety net of the audience we had, knowing we wanted to grow audience and that happened. And I believe it happened because the option makes sense to our viewers," KTHV President and General Manager Larry Audas said.

KASN-TV, Channel 38, now airs "Extra" during the 6:30 p.m. time slot. On KLRT-TV, Channel 16's, sister station, "Extra" earned about a 1 rating for market households and a 0.4 rating in both adults and women 25-54. Of course, KASN does not have the traditional audience that the four major stations possess.

"We tend not to judge programming on its first book," said Chuck Spohn, KASN and KLRT's general manager. "We are in it for the long run with that show. It'll take people time to find it."

The highest-rated show for the time period continues to be KATV-TV, Channel 7's, "Wheel of Fortune." The "Wheel" scored a healthy 13.6 household rating in the market and demos of ratings of 6.6 for adults 25-54 and Z1 for women. KARK-TV, Channel 4, airs "Entertainment Tonight" in the slot, which earned a 3.6 household rating in the market and demos of 2.6 for adults and 2.9 for women. KLRT's offering, "King of the Hill," nabbed a 3 household rating in the market and a 3 rating for adults and 1.9 for women.

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