PRIMEDIA has been very secretive about Channel One’s ad revenue. We are aware of only two times that the public has gotten any insight into this area.
In 1997, Forbes magazine reported that Channel One News had revenue of $70,000,000 for 1996.
Last week, PRIMEDIA stated that Channel One News had revenue of $15,000,000 for the 4th quarter of 2003. This is the first time, Channel One’s revenue was so clearly broken out from other companies in their business division.
There were 58 broadcast days in that quarter, making Channel One’s revenue per show $258,620.
We estimate that Channel One broadcasts 201 shows per year. Therefore in 1996, Channel One News averaged $348,258. That’s a decrease in revenue per show of $89,638.
That represents a decline of about 25%, without taking inflation into account.
The actual revenue numbers of course will be different than our figures, but it is breathtaking to consider that in the SEVEN YEARS since 1996, the company is at a LOWER revenue level.
The national protest against Channel One’s exploitation of schoolchildren has been VERY EFFECTIVE.
