<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 11,909 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 445,838 <F1> <ALLOWANCES> 90,230 <F1> <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 196,240 <PP&E> 627,572 <DEPRECIATION> 299,007 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 834,861 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 231,720 <BONDS> 323,187 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 125 <OTHER-SE> 231,343 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 834,861 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 488,443 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 316,201 <F2> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 33,527 <F3> <LOSS-PROVISION> 57,486 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 36,042 <INCOME-PRETAX> (15,960) <INCOME-TAX> 265 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (16,225) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (16,225) <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.33 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>THESE AMOUNTS REFLECT SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BALANCES AS DISCLOSED IN THE NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. <F2>THIS AMOUNT IS INCLUDED IN THE FITNESS CENTER OPERATIONS LINE AND THE ADVERTISING LINE IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996. <F3>THIS AMOUNT IS INCLUDED IN THE MEMBER PROCESSING AND COLLECTION CENTERS LINE ON THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996. </FN>