"Channel One" is a television news program produced by Whittle Communications Inc. and broadcast by satellite to American secondary schools that have entered into a contract for it. The contract requires no monetary payment by the school and provides it with a satellite dish, videocassette recorder, and essentially one television per classroom. In exchange for the program and equipment, students must be exposed to 10 minutes of news and 2 minutes of commercials every school day for 3 years. The curriculum, instructional approach, and ethics of use of Channel One are explored from several viewpoints. The history of corporate involvement in the schools is traced, and some historical analogues of Channel One in mass media are identified. Ethical considerations in such broadcasting, in particular the showing of commercials, and curriculum issues in producing the news program are considered. Further concerns are the issue of control over the exposure of students to program content, and the ideology presented to students through the programs. The phenomenon of Channel One must be regarded as an alert, bringing to public awareness issues and questions that are not easily resolved, but which will become more important as economic feasibility allows the public and private sectors to use electronic technologies for educational purposes. One figure illustrates the discussion. (Contains 47 references.) (SLD)