<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                          75,556
<SECURITIES>                     5,701
<RECEIVABLES>                   20,302
<ALLOWANCES>                     5,207
<INVENTORY>                        556
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               175,880   
<PP&E>                          18,110
<DEPRECIATION>                   3,176
<TOTAL-ASSETS>               1,446,644
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          163,955        
<BONDS>                        295,426
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                0
<PREFERRED>                          0
<COMMON>                           834
<OTHER-SE>                     933,141
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,446,644
<SALES>                        144,773
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               144,773       
<CGS>                           35,669
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   35,669
<OTHER-EXPENSES>               158,477 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                 3,657
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              32,900
<INCOME-PRETAX>                (82,273)
<INCOME-TAX>                   (32,970)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>            (49,303)
<DISCONTINUED>                       0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                      0 
<CHANGES>                            0 
<NET-INCOME>                   (49,303)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                    (0.70)
<EPS-DILUTED>                    (0.70)