WKRQ-FM (101.9) and two sister Infinity Broadcasting stations, WUBE-FM (105.1) and WGRR-FM (103.5), launched a similar coast-to-coast $1-million giveaway Thursday. All three stations are playing the same game, at the same time, though they're calling it different names on each station.

        This is the first national contest effort by the CBS subsidiary. Clear Channel (then Jacor Communications) introduced “group contests” to Cincinnati three years ago on WVMX-FM (94.1).

        WKRQ-FM announced the contest at 8 a.m. Thursday after a three-day stunt broadcasting the phrase “Q102 is finished.” Morning DJ Danny Meyers finished the sentence by saying, “Q102 is finished filling the Q102 million dollar money machine.”

        Unlike many Clear Channel contests here, the Infinity contest promotions make it clear that Tristate listeners are vying with people in other radio markets for the chance to win $10,000 an hour on Thursdays, and $1,000 an hour the other six days.

        “In no way, shape or form are we trying to hide how it works. We're going to be up front and open about it,” says Tim Closson, WUBE-FM program director.

        All stations direct listeners to call the same toll-free number at the same time, Mr. Closson says. The 110th caller who gets through to a Dallas phone bank wins the hourly prize.

        Thirty-eight stations in 24 cities, from Baltimore to Los Angeles, will be competing for the cash. Other cities are: Austin, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Portland (Ore.), Rochester, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

        “In Cincinnati you have a pretty good chance to win with three stations playing the game,” Mr. Closson says.

        National radio group contests “are the wave of the future,” Mr. Closson says. He cited the same reason that Clear Channel executives have used in explaining the attraction for national giveaways: “People play the Powerball all the time. People like the opportunity to try to win a really big prize.”

        Stations will offer a chance to win hourly from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. through May 2.

        Q102 finished: Q102 also announced Thursday that it has stopped playing rap music. But the station did not announce a radical change in music, format and/or call letters, as had been rumored in the past week.

        “Our research shows that our listeners really don't want to hear the rap product on our station. Our dropping the rap product will actually build our 18-34 audience and our 25-54 audience,” says Mike Fredrick, Q102 vice president and general manager.

        Q102 won't lose teen listeners by wiping out rap, he says, “because of the huge (and growing) demand for product that we will play even more of, like the Dave Matthews Band, Dido and Lenny Kravitz.'' He calls the Q102 format “mainstream Top 40.”

        “Like all great Top 40 stations we have followed the demands of our audience as different genres of music have come in and out of favor,” he says.

        DJs finished: Not announced on the air Thursday was that midday DJ Maxwell is finished at the station. And knowledgeable sources say Leno, the longtime evening DJ, will be next to go.

        Mr. Fredrick confirmed the departure of Maxwell and sidestepped the Leno question. “It is not appropriate to address the status of any employee working at Q102,” he said.

        Leno could not be reached for comment.

        BET news: Keeping with our theme: Tavis Smiley is finished at BET. The network did not renew the contract of the BET Tonight host (11:30 p.m. weekdays), which expires in September.

        BET Tonight will be revamped for the fall season, says Nina Henderson-Moore, senior vice president of news, public affairs and programming acquisitions.

        “We're preparing to launch a new BET News division that will not only continue to talk about issues important to African-Americans, but will provide the most comprehensive coverage of news from a black perspective anywhere on television. BET Tonight will live on — but in a new direction,”she says

        Fund stuff: WCET-TV fell short on its March fund drive, while WVXU-FM (91.7) exceeded expectations.

        Xavier University's eight-day campaign ended Wednesday at $274,812, or $24,812 over projections.

        Channel 48 ended a 19-day March drive Wednesday with $200,273, about $34,000 short of its target. But the station made its goal during children's programming with 227 families pledging $15,857.

        Channel 48 managers will have a better handle on revenues after the April 19-28 Action Auction. A $65,000 shortfall last March was made up by larger than expected Auction receipts.

        By the way, the Auction again needs table items — goods, services, gift certificates, Reds tickets or other items valued between $50 and $500. If you can help, call the Auction office (345-6530).

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