<ARTICLE>                                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                              1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                      JAN-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                        SEP-30-1997 
<CASH>                                  125,017
<SECURITIES>                             29,990
<RECEIVABLES>                            19,648 
<ALLOWANCES>                             (3,338)
<INVENTORY>                                   0 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        216,196 
<PP&E>                                   53,449 
<DEPRECIATION>                           28,431 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          482,892 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    83,049 
<BONDS>                                 178,969 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                         0 
<PREFERRED>                                   0 
<COMMON>                                    240 
<OTHER-SE>                              181,918 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            482,892 
<SALES>                                  94,402 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         94,402 
<CGS>                                         0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           104,560 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         37,029 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        6,218 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         (55,994)
<INCOME-TAX>                             (7,926)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     (60,637)
<DISCONTINUED>                                0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               0 
<CHANGES>                                     0 
<NET-INCOME>                            (60,637)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             (2.54)
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0.000