WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<LEGEND>
                                                  EXHIBIT 27.1

                          FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                    COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES
                        ARTICLE 5 OF REGULATION S-X

          This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Balance
Sheets of King World Productions, Inc. and its Subsidiaries and is quali-
fied in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                                   

MULTIPLIER                            1,000
CURRENCY                              U.S. DOLLARS
PERIOD-TYPE                           2nd QUARTER
FISCAL-YEAR-END                       08/31/98
PERIOD-START                          12/01/97
PERIOD-END                            02/28/98
EXCHANGE-RATE                         1
CASH                                  $213,189
SECURITIES                            $0
RECEIVABLES                           $91,685
ALLOWANCES                            $3,301
INVENTORY                             $0
CURRENT ASSETS                        $555,907
PP&E                                  $28,561
DEPRECIATION                          $12,608
TOTAL-ASSETS                          $952,186
CURRENT-LIABILITIES                   $98,863
BONDS                                 $0
COMMON                                $880
PREFERRED-MANDATORY                   $0
PREFERRED                             $0
OTHER-SE                              $852,443
TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY            $952,186
SALES                                 $0
TOTAL-REVENUES                        $173,916
CGS                                   $0
TOTAL-COSTS                           $110,694
OTHER-EXPENSES                        $19,115
LOSS-PROVISION                        $0
INTEREST-EXPENSE                      $0
INCOME-PRETAX                         $51,285
INCOME-TAX                            $17,707
INCOME-CONTINUING                     $33,578
DISCONTINUED                          $0
EXTRAORDINARY                         $0
CHANGES                               $0
NET-INCOME                            $33,578
EPS-PRIMARY*                          $0.46
EPS-DILUTED*                          $0.44

- -------------------
* Adjusted to reflect a two-for-1 stock split, effected as a stock
dividend, on February 17, 1998.