<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)