For the City-Times

Just like the 45 rpm records of yesteryear, “Trivia 45: Trivia on 45!” promises lots of music and good times for more than 12,000 players on April 11-13.

The world’s largest trivia contest is hosted annually by the student-run WWSP-90FM radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. It will be played for 54 hours straight, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Audiences may listen to the contest at 89.9 FM or online at http://90fm.org.

Developed and planned by WWSP-90FM staff, with coordination and writing by Stevens Point residents Jim Oliva and John Eckendorf, the contest features questions on a wide variety of topics, including movies, music, television, books, comic books and advertising. Players on about 400 teams have the length of one or two songs in which to phone the station with their answers. The top 10 teams receive trophies and bragging rights for the year.

In addition to phoning in answers, teams are also involved in scavenger hunt-type questions that take them around Stevens Point. A Trivia movie, the title to be announced, will also be shown a week prior to the contest on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5.

The annual Trivia Kick-off Parade begins at 4 p.m. Friday, April 11, in university Lot Q at Fourth Avenue and Illinois Avenue. It continues on Maria Drive, Isadore and Portage Streets to College Avenue, Reserve, High and Fremont Streets to Sims Avenue, ending at P.J. Jacobs Junior High School.

Players must register in person and in advance at the WWSP-90FM studios, housed in the Communication Arts Center on the UW-Stevens Point campus. Registration times are Monday through Thursday, April 7-10, from 3-7 p.m., and Friday, April 11, from noon to 6 p.m. Web-based registration is available for those out of town playing through streaming audio. For more information, go to www.90fmtrivia.org or www.90fm.org.

All funds collected from Trivia 45 help support the general maintenance of the radio station and scholarships for eligible members of the 90FM staff.

Trivia began in 1969 with 16 teams and was first broadcast on WWSP-90FM the following year. The non-profit, student-run station is the largest of its kind in the Midwest and provides an educational outlet for UW-Stevens Point students. It operates at 30,000 watts and reaches several central Wisconsin communities. In addition to Trivia, WWSP hosts Dylan Days, Jazzfest, Beatlesfest and Radiothon as part of its annual programming.

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