<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT MARCH 31, 1997, THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 9,924 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 300,140<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 73,529 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 191,820 <PP&E> 633,294 <DEPRECIATION> 312,628 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 794,823 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 185,861 <BONDS> 357,740 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 125 <OTHER-SE> 218,911 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 794,823 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 177,321 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 109,136<F2> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,661<F3> <LOSS-PROVISION> 25,537 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,379 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,622 <INCOME-TAX> 100 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,522 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,522 <EPS-PRIMARY> .19 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>THIS AMOUNT IS INCLUDED IN THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS RECEIVABLE LINES IN THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS NET OF UNEARNED FINANCE CHARGES. <F2>THIS AMOUNT IS INCLUDED IN THE FITNESS CENTER OPERATIONS LINE AND THE ADVERTISING LINE IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997. <F3>THIS AMOUNT IS INCLUDED IN THE MEMBER PROCESSING AND COLLECTION CENTERS LINE ON THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997. </FN>