<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>
		    ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY 
			 FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
		       IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM 601(C)
			OR REGULATIONS S-K AND S-B

			     (In thousands)

This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Retained Earnings for the six months 
ended March 31, 1996 and the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31,
1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial 
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>            6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                     MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                                25,990
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         30,517
<ALLOWANCES>                                           1,448
<INVENTORY>                                                0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      68,921
<PP&E>                                                96,425
<DEPRECIATION>                                        60,924
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       272,028
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 25,984
<BONDS>                                              398,352
<COMMON>                                                   1
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                              168
<OTHER-SE>                                         (160,679)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         272,028
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      72,194
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         48,209
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         252
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    14,341
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       11,203
<INCOME-TAX>                                           4,495
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    6,708
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        7,750
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                         (1,042)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0