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

  


                                                  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.

TABLE
                                 
MULTIPLIER                          1,000
CURRENCY                            U.S. DOLLARS
PERIOD-TYPE                         1st QUARTER
FISCAL-YEAR-END                     08/31/98
PERIOD-START                        03/01/98
PERIOD-END                          05/31/98
EXCHANGE-RATE                       1
CASH                                $224,752
SECURITIES                          $77,476
RECEIVABLES                         $78,479
ALLOWANCES                          $3,301
INVENTORY                           $0
CURRENT ASSETS                      $471,188
PP&E                                $29,349
DEPRECIATION                        $13,070
TOTAL-ASSETS                        $993,369
CURRENT-LIABILITIES                 $123,880
BONDS                               $0
COMMON                              $881
PREFERRED-MANDATORY                 $0
PREFERRED                           $0
OTHER-SE                            $1,236,534
TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY          $993,369
SALES                               $0
TOTAL-REVENUES                      $167,968
CGS                                 $0
TOTAL-COSTS                         $106,510
OTHER-EXPENSES                      $18,564
LOSS-PROVISION                      $0
INTEREST-EXPENSE                    $0
INCOME-PRETAX                       $50,514
INCOME-TAX                          $16,312
INCOME-CONTINUING                   $34,202
DISCONTINUED                        $0
EXTRAORDINARY                       $0
CHANGES                             $0
NET-INCOME                          $34,202
EPS-PRIMARY                         $0.47
EPS-DILUTED                         $0.45