<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 12,418 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 90,591 <ALLOWANCES> 4,265 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 115,825 <PP&E> 175,182 <DEPRECIATION> 17,551 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,892,421 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 73,996 <BONDS> 808,683 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 348 <OTHER-SE> 595,475 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,892,421 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 100,153 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 78,630 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 16,131 <LOSS-PROVISION> 368 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,176 <INCOME-PRETAX> (6,684) <INCOME-TAX> (4,100) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,584) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (5,556) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,140) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.24) <EPS-DILUTED> (.24)