<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 three
months ended December 31, 1996 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of
September 30, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
consolidated financial statements.


</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>            1,000
       
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                                           5,335
<SECURITIES>                                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   39,492 
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     1,454
<INVENTORY>                                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                60,800
<PP&E>                                                         119,510
<DEPRECIATION>                                                  67,759 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 282,743
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                           43,898
<BONDS>                                                        396,465
<COMMON>                                                             1
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                0
<PREFERRED>                                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                                    (231,250)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                   282,743
<SALES>                                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                47,792
<CGS>                                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                   31,672
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                   391
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              10,659
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  5,681
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     2,487
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                              3,194
<DISCONTINUED>                                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      0
<CHANGES>                                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                                     3,194
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        0