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.

       
                                 
<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000
<CURRENCY>                          U.S. DOLLARS
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       1st QUARTER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                      SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                        NOV-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                     1
<CASH>                              $192,158
<SECURITIES>                        $0
<RECEIVABLES>                       $76,282
<ALLOWANCES>                        $4,101
<INVENTORY>                         $0
<CURRENT ASSETS>                    $544,046
<PP&E>                              $23,696
<DEPRECIATION>                      $12,121
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      $934,450
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               $111,657
<BONDS>                             $0
<COMMON>                            $512
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               $0
<PREFERRED>                         $0
<OTHER-SE>                          $822,793
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        $934,450
<SALES>                             $0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    $172,926
<CGS>                               $0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       $107,235
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    $20,041
<LOSS-PROVISION>                    $0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  $0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     $52,544
<INCOME-TAX>                        $18,175
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 $34,369
<DISCONTINUED>                      $0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                     $0
<CHANGES>                           $0
<NET-INCOME>                        $34,369
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       $0.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                       $0.91