<PAGE 5>
                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

KING WORLD DECLARES SPECIAL DIVIDEND 
Authorizes Share Repurchase Program

    NEW YORK, N.Y., April 15, 1997 -- King World Productions, Inc. (NYSE:
KWP) today announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a
special dividend of $2.00 per common share.  The dividend will be payable
on May 16, 1997 to shareholders of record on April 25, 1997.  King World
also announced today that it has authorized a share repurchase program that
will allow the Company to purchase up to 5,000,000 shares of King World's
common stock, representing approximately 13% of shares outstanding.

    Michael King, King World's President and Chief Executive Officer,
said.  "King World's first priority is and always will be the creation of
value for its shareholders.  We consider our shareholders to be our
partners and appreciate the longstanding support we have received from
them.  We believe this is the right time to reward our shareholders for
their confidence and patience.  To that end, we are pleased to announce
this special dividend.  Going forward, we anticipate that our cash balance
will be used for acquisitions and to fund production of new and existing
programs.

    "The stock repurchase program, in addition to being accretive to
earnings per share, underscores management's belief in the future of
the Company.  King World is poised for growth, and we truly believe there is no
better investment available today than King World common stock.  With some
of the most impressive franchises in the history of television as well as a
pristine balance sheet, King World is well positioned for the future.  As
we implement our strategy over the next several months, we are confident
that our results will corroborate the confidence we have shown today."

    Under the 5 million share repurchase program announced today, shares
will be purchased from time to time in the open market and in privately
negotiated transactions.  The new buyback program follows the recent
completion of a four year buyback under which King World purchased 2.0
million shares for a total cost of $71 million.  The purchased shares
will be used for general corporate purposes.

     King World is the leading worldwide distributor of first-run program-
ming, including WHEEL OF FORTUNE, JEOPARDY! and THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW, the
three highest-rated, first-run strips in syndication. The Company produces
and distributes INSIDE EDITION and AMERICAN JOURNAL, and distributes THE
GERALDO RIVERA SHOW, the MR. FOOD insert and a library of feature films and
television programs.  The Company's barter subsidiary, Camelot Entertain-
ment Sales, Inc., sells national advertising time in King World and other
TV programming.  Another subsidiary, King World Direct, is a worldwide,
full-service, direct marketing company.  WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! are
produced by Califon Productions, Inc. and Jeopardy Productions, Inc., which
are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Columbia TriStar Television, a Sony
Pictures Entertainment company.  THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW is produced by
HARPO Productions, Inc. THE GERALDO RIVERA SHOW is produced by Tribune
Entertainment.

For further information, contact:  Arthur Sando
                                   King World Productions
                                   (212) 315-4000

                                   Adam Miller/Rob Lerner
                                   The Abernathy MacGregor Group, Inc.
                                   (212) 371-5999