<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM UNITEL VIDEO INC.'S FORM 10K FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996 <CASH> 192 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,413 <ALLOWANCES> 712 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 12,534 <PP&E> 120,440 <DEPRECIATION> 69,974 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 67,618 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,890 <BONDS> 38,815 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 26 <OTHER-SE> 17,784 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 67,618 <SALES> 79,287 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 79,287 <CGS> 65,501 <TOTAL-COSTS> 65,501 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 18,897 <LOSS-PROVISION> 407 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,686 <INCOME-PRETAX> (5,084) <INCOME-TAX> 40 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5,124) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,124) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.96) <EPS-DILUTED> 0