<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
Description: FY 1998 FDS for PRIMEDIA, Inc.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000884382
<NAME>                        PRIMEDIA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          24,538
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  284,441
<ALLOWANCES>                                    37,303
<INVENTORY>                                     41,254
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               347,142
<PP&E>                                         283,290
<DEPRECIATION>                                 135,632
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,041,074
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          581,187
<BONDS>                                      1,928,892
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          557,841
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       984,154
<OTHER-SE>                                 (1,064,893)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,041,074
<SALES>                                      1,573,573
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,573,573
<CGS>                                          367,466
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  367,466
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,087,950
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             144,442
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (37,736)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (37,736)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (37,736)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.71)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.71)