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EXHIBIT 12.1
PRIMEDIA Inc.
Computation of Deficiency of Earnings to Fixed Charges
<Table>
<Caption>
Six Months Ended
Years Ended December 31, June 30,
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2000 2001
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(dollars in thousands)
Earnings:
Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes $ (35,703) $(159,124) $ (37,736) $(113,613) $(305,626) (46,499) (225,488)
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense and amortization
of deferred financing costs 128,263 139,696 147,488 168,195 147,824 77,258 75,917
Equity losses in subsidiaries -- -- -- -- 10,137 724 29,305
Interest in rent expense 10,520 12,281 12,094 12,700 13,770 6,018 8,248
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings $ 103,080 $ (7,147) $ 121,846 $ 67,282 $(133,895} $ 37,501 $(112,018)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense and amortization
of deferred financing costs $ 128,263 $ 139,696 $ 147,488 $ 168,195 $ 147,824 $ 77,258 $ 75,917
interest in rent expense 10,520 12,281 12,094 12,700 13,770 6,018 8,248
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Fixed Charges $ 138,783 $ 151,977 $ 159,582 $ 180,895 $ 161,594 $ 83,276 84,165
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Deficiency of earnings to fixed charges $ (35,703) $(159,124) $ (37,736) $(113,613) $(295,489] $ (45,775) $(196,183)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
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PRIMEDIA Inc.
Computation of Deficiency of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends and Related Accretion
<Table>
<Caption>
Six Months Ended
Years Ended December 31, June 30,
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2000 2001
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(dollars in thousands)
Earnings:
Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes $ (35,703) $(159,124) $ (37,736) $(113,613) $(305,626) (46,499) (225,488)
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense and amortization
of deferred financing costs 128,263 139,696 147,488 168,195 147,824 77,258 75,917
Equity losses in subsidiaries -- -- -- -- 10,137 724 29,305
Interest in rent expense 10,520 12,281 12,094 12,700 13,770 6,018 8,248
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings $ 103,080 $ (7,147) $ 121,846 $ 67,282 $(133,895} $ 37,501 $(112,018)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends and Related Accretion:
Interest expense and amortization
of deferred financing costs $ 128,263 $ 139,696 $ 147,488 $ 168,195 $ 147,824 $ 77,258 $ 75,917
Interest in rent expense 10,520 12,281 12,094 12,700 13,770 6,018 8,248
Preferred stock dividends and
related accretion 43,526 65,073 63,285 53,062 53,063 26,531 27,347
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends and Related Accretion: $ 182,309 $ 217,050 $ 222,867 $ 233,957 $ 214,657 $ 109,807 $ 111,512
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Deficiency of earnings to fixed charges
and preferred stock dividends and
related accretion $ (79,229) $(224,197) $(101,021) $(166,675) $(348,552] $ (72,306) $(223,530)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
</Table>