<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PRIMESTAR, INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 0 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 121,527 <ALLOWANCES> 10,093 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,847,185 <DEPRECIATION> 413,532 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,012,565 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 1,710,918 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,009 <OTHER-SE> 800,398 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,012,565 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 911,372 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 464,060 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 365,473 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 104,042 <INCOME-PRETAX> (371,560) <INCOME-TAX> (115,718) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (255,842) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (255,842) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.63) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.63)