KATV-TV, Channel 7, led Little Rock competitors in November’s Nielsen ratings of local newscasts. However, household rating and share numbers were down or flat year over year for KATV’s news shows.
The data comes from Nielsen Media Research of New York.
“We had a tremendous November book in 2011,” said Nick Genty, KATV news director. Such high ratings are “hard to match sometimes.”
KATV General Manager Mark Rose said in a voice mail message that he hadn’t looked closely at the ratings, but he’s “thrilled to be still the No. 1 TV station in Arkansas.”
KATV’s news failed to lead the pack only during the 5 a.m. period, where the station’s household share dropped by a notable 6.2 points year over year. The morning show of KTHV-TV, Channel 11, won the time slot. “It’s always been a dogfight in the morning,” Genty said.
The evening news shows of KARK-TV, Channel 4, gained some ground or stayed flat in the 2012 Nielsen books. KARK’s 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts stayed solidly at No. 2 behind KATV, while KTHV’s shows at the same times ranked at No. 3. At 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., KTHV was No. 2 behind KATV.
KLRT-TV, Channel 16, saw all of its newscasts lose household rating and share points.
KLRT General Manager Chuck Spohn said ratings were down for the Fox affiliate’s shows leading into the local newscasts, affecting the news ratings.
KTHV General Manager Michael Caplan did not return phone calls. KARK does not subscribe to the Nielsen ratings so its staff cannot comment on them.
Each Nielsen household rating point represents 1 percent of the 571,760 households in the market. Each household share point represents 1 percent of the number of homes with TVs tuned into a station at a given time.
The Little Rock-Pine Bluff designated market area includes 38 Arkansas counties.