<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 nine months
ended June 30, 1997 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1997
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such consolidated financial
statements.

</LEGEND> 
<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000 
          
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    SEP-30-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                         JUN-30-1997 
<CASH>                                    12,925 
<SECURITIES>                                   0 
<RECEIVABLES>                             39,130 
<ALLOWANCES>                              (1,700)
<INVENTORY>                                    0 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            59,115 
<PP&E>                                   128,651 
<DEPRECIATION>                           (74,385)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           279,916 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     27,144 
<BONDS>                                  396,540 
<COMMON>                                       1 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0 
<PREFERRED>                                    0 
<OTHER-SE>                              (234,852)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             279,916 
<SALES>                                        0 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         131,359 
<CGS>                                          0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             95,652 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             954 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        31,913 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            4,665
<INCOME-TAX>                               3,180
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        1,485
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0 
<CHANGES>                                      0 
<NET-INCOME>                               1,485
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0