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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HWCEB0Fn/znS3AI5xsc6p+oPWJh+n7QySi2QTOOJEgxMbFpELE74UQoEBvCpg0ml
 V9qL2nhO885FY6P7LAniwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-05-059339.txt : 20051206
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-05-059339.hdr.sgml : 20051206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051206145355
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-05-059339
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051206
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051206

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHELL BEVERLY C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235020

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11106
		FILM NUMBER:		051246788

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127450100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		745 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10151

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRIMEDIA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884382
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERIODICALS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2721]
		IRS NUMBER:				133647573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		745 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10151
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127450100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		745 5TH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10151

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	K III COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884382</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRIMEDIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235020</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHELL BEVERLY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PRIMEDIA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>745 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10151</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>69038</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.05</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>607564</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were surrendered to PRIMEDIA to pay for withholding tax on Restricted Shares that vested on December 2, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price equals the closing price for PRIMEDIA shares on the date the Restricted Shares vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 765 shares of PRIMEDIA common stock under the PRIMEDIA 401(k) plan and 11,000 shares of PRIMEDIA common stock held in trust</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Beverly C. Chell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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