<ARTICLE> 5

                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                     107,981,000              41,487,000                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              457,644,000             478,670,000                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                67,315,000              61,848,000                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 32,916,000              23,470,000                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           654,748,000             566,514,000                       0
<PP&E>                                     427,109,000             341,446,000                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                             141,660,000             108,109,000                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,056,718,000           1,911,619,000                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    1,698,554,000             178,450,000                       0
<BONDS>                                    470,000,000             470,000,000                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        81,000                  81,000                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 326,323,000             473,783,000                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             2,056,718,000           1,911,619,000                       0
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,445,351,000           1,203,738,000             758,403,000
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            1,509,333,000           1,068,825,000             646,816,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           133,253,000              44,858,000              28,899,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         110,797,000              84,003,000              29,082,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          (181,826,000)              48,641,000              81,178,000
<INCOME-TAX>                              (34,570,000)              38,449,000              35,654,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      (147,256,000)              10,192,000              45,524,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0              12,744,000                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0               6,896,000                       0
<NET-INCOME>                             (147,256,000)             (9,448,000)              45,524,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (1.81)                  (0.12)                    0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (1.81)                  (0.12)                    0.57