MUMBAI: America's hit serial from NBC, Friends will air its final episode on Thursday 6 May. NBC estimates that 40 to 50 million viewers will experience the finale.

The data was revealed by a Harris Interactive study commissioned by Phillips Electronics. The study analysed how US consumers develop social connections and personal viewing habits around television programming.

In the survey, 52 per cent of respondents said that the season finale of their favorite TV show was a must-view event. Nearly 32 per cent are plannning to record the final episode of Friends .The survey showed that more than half (55 per cent) of respondents invite friends and family over to watch television programmes in general, while 38 per cent does the same once or twice a month.

Movies, sports and sitcoms top the list of TV programming with audience shares of 86, 52 and 49 per cent respectively. TV dramas stand at 37 per cent while reality TV shows have 31 per cent share.

The survey was conducted online from 31 March to 13 April 2004 among 1,053 TV owners aged 20 to 55.