Channel One News advertises video games and video game systems to students as they sit in their school desks.
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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.
As advertised on Channel One News: Game Boy Advance $80 (2004)
Q&a: Ending Channel One’s contract
What will happen if I end my district’s contract with Channel One? Q: Our school district has had Channel One in our middle and high schools since the early 1990’s. It’s the end of the school year and our principals all agree it is time to end our contract. Is...
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From the archives: A Channel One threat letter (2009)
Note “2nd and Final Fax.” This too was ignored by school administrators. Schools no longer have to be bullied by Channel One.
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As advertised on Channel One News: Cobaltcard by American Express (December 18, 2000)
Channel One News thought every teen and preteen need this prepaid credit card in their wallet or purse. Parents had no idea this card was getting heavily promoted before Christmas 2000. The card had problems and was discontinued the next year.
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Complete, unedited Channel One News for January 3, 2001
Channel One News doesn’t think parents and the public in general need to see the advertising on the in-classroom TV show. That’s why this youth marketing firm removes commercials from their web rebroadcast.
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As advertised on Channel One News: Blockbuster Video (January 8, 1999)
Play video games for five straight days when you rent from Blockbuster Video.
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From the archives: Channel One wants middle school students to vote on lowering the drinking age. (September 23, 2008)
Many of stories on Channel One News tend to normalize teen drinking. This “top story of the day” sends confusing messages to young middle school students who are Channel One’s most loyal audience.
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Frequently asked questions about Channel One News InterActiv
From Jim Metrock: I keep trying to imagine a school principal or superintendent who is excited about a Promethean-powered Channel One News program. In the early 90’s some school districts agreed to experiment with Channel One because they received the use of a TV network. With the new Promethean/Channel One deal schools have to...
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