<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 18,779 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 123,936 <ALLOWANCES> 5,436 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 169,696 <PP&E> 201,783 <DEPRECIATION> 26,216 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,406,532 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 86,504 <BONDS> 958,119 <COMMON> 455 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 911,978 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,406,532 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 413,689 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 296,261 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 62,337 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,367 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 60,081 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,544 <INCOME-TAX> 6,500 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,044 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 7,456 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,412) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.13) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.13)