<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, 1998 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 1998 and
is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to such  consolidated  financial
statements.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                     1,000
       
                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                                               17,903
<SECURITIES>                                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        34,638
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          1,840
<INVENTORY>                                                               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                     64,364
<PP&E>                                                              134,837
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       84,242
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      279,907
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                36,275
<BONDS>                                                             423,877
<COMMON>                                                                  1
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<OTHER-SE>                                                         (193,618)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        279,907
<SALES>                                                                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     90,393
<CGS>                                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                        64,552
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                        571
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        288
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   23,001
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       4,317
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          2,133
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   2,184
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       5,155
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         (2,971)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0