<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                            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 qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         000756764
<NAME>                        #x4hauwm
<MULTIPLIER>                            1,000
<CURRENCY>                              U.S. DOLLARS

                           

<PERIOD-TYPE>                           3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       Aug-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                          Mar-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                            May-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                         1
<CASH>                                  $375,268
<SECURITIES>                            $0
<RECEIVABLES>                           $105,066
<ALLOWANCES>                            $3,014
<INVENTORY>                             $0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                        $604,679
<PP&E>                                  $35,640
<DEPRECIATION>                          $15,863
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          $1,106,293
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                   $142,708
<BONDS>                                 $0
<COMMON>                                $895
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   $0
<PREFERRED>                             $0
<OTHER-SE>                              $962,690
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            $1,106,293
<SALES>                                 $0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                        $192,737
<CGS>                                   $0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                           $118,249
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        $22,075
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        $0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      $0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         $60,129
<INCOME-TAX>                            $20,723
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                     $39,406
<DISCONTINUED>                          $0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         $0
<CHANGES>                               $0
<NET-INCOME>                            $39,406
<EPS-BASIC>                           0.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                           0.53