<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, 1999 and the  Consolidated  Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1999 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-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                     JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                                                 8,813
<SECURITIES>                                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                         41,159
<ALLOWANCES>                                                           1,487
<INVENTORY>                                                                0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                      57,806
<PP&E>                                                               144,237
<DEPRECIATION>                                                        96,765
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       263,606
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                 30,331
<BONDS>                                                              424,022
<COMMON>                                                                   1
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          (206,982)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                         263,606
<SALES>                                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     143,377
<CGS>                                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                         98,121
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         908
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                         330
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    31,415
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       15,012
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           6,540
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    8,472
<DISCONTINUED>                                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           8,472
<EPS-BASIC>                                                              0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0