MEDIA NEWS.

Prairie States Broadcasting Inc. has decided to offer its York, Neb., radio station KAWL as the prize in a trivia contest that costs $1,000 to enter. If 1,000 people enter the contest by May 31, the winner will get the radio station, if approved by the Federal Communications Commission. It is also running a promotion that offers two listeners $12,000 in farm supplies, including enough seed, fertilizer and fuel to grow 80 acres of corn or soybeans.

RFD Communications, Inc., Dallas, has launched a television network dedicated to serving the needs of rural America. The 24-hour program schedule is being distributed by EchoStar Communications Corp. to all of its DISH network subscribers for no additional charge.

The daily RFD-TV schedule features a wide variety of informational/educational programming targeting a vast array of interests in rural homes and educational institutions. A special focus on rural news and events, weather forecasts, exhaustive market coverage, documentaries, interactive "call-in" programs, equine features and extensive broadcasts of rural conventions anchor the program fare. In addition, blocks of programming submitted from Land Grant Colleges and Universities, FFA, the Farm Bureau and other qualified organizations and companies support the lineup.

"Viewer feedback for the initial broadcasts have been off the charts," states Patrick Gottsch, president and general manager of RFD Communications.