<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000884382
<NAME> PRIMEDIA INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          27,226                  36,655
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  211,150                 273,119
<ALLOWANCES>                                    37,379                  39,516
<INVENTORY>                                     70,844                  52,743
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               303,826                 376,519
<PP&E>                                         161,770                 204,620
<DEPRECIATION>                                  49,757                  81,797
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,881,416               2,552,215
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          360,386                 421,224
<BONDS>                                      1,134,916               1,565,686
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          231,606                 442,729
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       777,475                 779,882
<OTHER-SE>                                   (656,891)               (692,368)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,881,416               2,552,215
<SALES>                                      1,046,329               1,374,449
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,046,329               1,374,449
<CGS>                                          251,347                 337,065
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  251,347                 337,065
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               821,257                 951,483
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             105,837                 124,601
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (135,035)                (35,703)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (59,600)                (53,300)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (75,435)                  17,597
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (9,553)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (75,435)                   8,044
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.92)                   (.27)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.92)                   (.27)