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PART I
Item 1. Business.
The Washington Post Company (the “Company”) is a diversified education and media company. The Company’s Kaplan
subsidiary provides a wide variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The
Company’s media operations consist of the ownership and operation of cable television systems, newspaper publishing
(principally The Washington Post), television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of six television
broadcast stations) and magazine publishing (principally Newsweek).
Information concerning the consolidated operating revenues, consolidated income from operations and identifiable assets
attributable to the principal segments of the Company’s business for the last three fiscal years is contained in Note P to the
Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. (Revenues for
each segment are shown in such Note P net of intersegment sales, which did not exceed 0.2% of consolidated operating
revenues.)
The Company’s operations in geographic areas outside the United States consist primarily of Kaplan’s foreign operations
and the publication of the international editions of Newsweek. During the fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, these
operations accounted for approximately 13%, 12% and 9%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenues, and
the identifiable assets attributable to foreign operations represented approximately 13%, 11% and 10% of the Company’s
consolidated assets at December 28, 2008, December 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
Education
Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, provides an extensive range of educational and training services worldwide
for students and professionals. The Company divides Kaplan’s various businesses into three categories for financial
reporting purposes: Higher Education; Test Prep and Admissions; and Professional.
Higher Education
Kaplan Higher Education provides a wide array of diploma and degree programs—on campus and online—designed to
meet the needs of students seeking to advance their education and their careers.
Higher Education U.S.
Kaplan’s U.S.-based Higher Education business currently consists of 71 schools in 20 states that provide classroom-based
instruction and one institution that specializes in online education. The schools providing classroom-based instruction offer
a variety of diploma, associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree programs, primarily in the fields of healthcare, business,
paralegal studies, information technology, criminal justice, and fashion and design. The classroom-based schools were
serving more than 38,700 students at year-end 2008 (which includes the classroom-based programs of Kaplan
University), with approximately 35% of such students enrolled in accredited bachelor’s or associate’s degree programs.
Each of these schools is accredited by one of several regional or national accrediting agencies recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education.
Kaplan University specializes in online education, offering various master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree
and certificate programs, principally in the fields of management, criminal justice, paralegal studies, information
technology, financial planning, nursing and education. Kaplan University is accredited by the Higher Learning
Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Most of Kaplan University’s programs are offered
online, while others are offered in a traditional classroom format at eight campuses in Iowa and Nebraska. At year-end
2008, Kaplan University had approximately 43,600 students enrolled in online programs. Kaplan University includes
Concord Law School, the nation’s first online law school, which offers Juris Doctor and Executive Juris Doctor degrees
wholly online (the Executive Juris Doctor degree program is designed for individuals who do not intend to practice law).
During 2008, the Company acquired National Paramedic Institute, Inc., a provider of online continuing education to
firefighters and emergency services personnel.
Higher Education Europe
Kaplan’s higher education businesses in Europe are Kaplan International Colleges (“KIC”), Dublin Business School
(“DBS”), Kaplan Open Learning (“KOL”) and Holborn College.
KIC offers academic preparation programs especially designed for international students, in collaboration with six U.K.
universities. At year-end 2008, KIC served 1,900 students. DBS is an undergraduate and graduate institution located in
Dublin, Ireland. DBS offers various undergraduate and graduate degree courses in business, the liberal arts and law, and
2008 FORM 10-K 1