Does your school still have Channel One News?
Learn how to unplug

Houghton Mifflin/Channel One News

Channel One News is a youth marketing company whose main purpose is to get advertising to a captive audience of impressionable schoolchildren. The company loans a school TV equipment in exchange for the school’s contractual pledge to show students a daily, 12-minute, hyper-commercial, TV program called Channel One News. Students lose one hour a week of schools time, which equates to one lost week of instructional time (32 hours) per year. No educational organization endorses the use of Channel One News.

Channel One has fallen on very hard times. Once they claimed over 8 million students were under contract. Since 1997 they have continued to lose schools and now they claim “nearly five million” students and the true figure is probably lower.

In May 2014, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt acquired Channel One from ZelnickMedia the makers of the ultra-violent Grand Thief Auto video game series. Houghton Mifflin did not disclose the purchase price.

At the end of 2014 most of Channel One’s full-paying advertisers have abandoned the program.

Missy Elliott: A Disaster For Channel One News

January 31, 2005
Missy Elliott: A Disaster For Channel One News

Obligation has been told by a reputable source that on January 19 Channel One News ran a commercial spot that featured a promotion for the raunchy Missy Elliott. This was to promote the contest that had previously only been on Channel One’s web site. (If you check Channel One’s web site for the January 19 show, you will see...
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Answers

January 25, 2005

Answers 1. Twinkies – Yes. Channel One advertised in classrooms. 2. Twix Chocolate Bars –Yes 3. Doritos – Yes 4. M&Ms – Yes 5. Burger King French Fries – No * 6. Crunch – Yes. 7. Pepsi Blue – Yes. Channel One ran an ad featuringa band known for their explicit lyrics to promote...
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Pop Quiz

January 25, 2005
Pop Quiz

1    What was NOT recently advertised on Channel One News?  answer at bottom of page                             Burger King french fries have not been advertised on Channel One News since the early 90’s.
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No “Day-Of” Coverage Of Bush Inauguration

January 20, 2005
No “Day-Of” Coverage Of Bush Inauguration

Channel One News has all the technical resources to provide live coverage of important events like today’s inauguration of President Bush, but they refuse to do so. The reason they refuse goes to the purpose of Channel One. The company’s purpose is NOT to timely inform students of current events. The company was NOT founded by journalists or educators. It...
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Who Gave Channel One Permission?

January 15, 2005
Who Gave Channel One Permission?

Channel One News asks students to vote on their favorite rock or rap songs. The top nine to twelve songs are then partially played each Thursday. No principal or superintendent would ever approve such a moronic idea. Well, Channel One didn’t ask anyone for permission. They just did it. Below are some of the songs Channel One has...
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The Stink That Won’t Wash Off

January 10, 2005
The Stink That Won’t Wash Off

Dr. John Draper, lobbyist, failed State BOE candidate Below: Sec. of State’s record of Channel One’s money to Draper.   Dr. John Draper is an education lobbyist in Alabama. He ran for the State Board of Education in 2004. He ran against the incumbent, Stephanie Bell, who opposes Channel One’s presence in Alabama schools. Draper supported a...
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The President Of Channel One News

January 10, 2005
The President Of Channel One News

Mr. Ritts, glad to have you at Obligation’s web site again. How ya been? How’s the company?   Metrock, this is another one of your make-believe interviews. I don’t know why I answer these questions but I will. First, I’m fine. Never been better, and the company is  doing great. You do-gooders haven’t laid a glove on us. I’m glad...
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Blast From The Past 2002 – Dodging A Bullet

January 9, 2005
Blast From The Past 2002 – Dodging A Bullet

SBOE Spares Channel One BY MICHAEL MAY  November 22, 2002: On Nov. 15, the State Board of Education considered and rejected a non-binding resolution recommending that local schools stop showing Channel One, a daily news program with commercials broadcast in 1,200 Texas high schools. At the meeting, Channel One was defended by Jim Ritts, the well-coiffed CEO of Primedia, which produces...
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Class Action Lawsuit?

January 6, 2005

Wednesday, January 5, 2005 Subject: Response to “Thieves of Time”   Dear Jim, This is my response to “Thieves of time”. I think that Obligation should find some schools and school districts that have Channel One, and file a class action lawsuit against them for stealing class time, and violating their contract with the school. Channel One obviously...
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Payson High School

January 6, 2005
Payson High School

Bells ring later in new semester By Max Foster, Roundup staff reporter Friday, December 17, 2004 Students at Payson High School and Rim Country Middle School can enjoy another 30 minutes of sleep or study time when classes reconvene Jan. 3. For junior Brad Meyocks, the later start time — 8:30 a.m. rather than 8 a.m. —...
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