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.