<ARTICLE>                    5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CAPITAL
CITIES/ABC, INC. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE
PERIOD ENDING  OCTOBER 1, 1995 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                 1,000
       
                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                 OCT-01-1995
<CASH>                         1,038,800
<SECURITIES>                     272,421
<RECEIVABLES>                    998,353
<ALLOWANCES>                      36,494
<INVENTORY>                       32,436
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               2,962,433
<PP&E>                         2,191,205
<DEPRECIATION>                   893,461
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 7,249,457
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          1,289,675
<BONDS>                          514,098
<COMMON>                          18,394
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0
<PREFERRED>                            0
<OTHER-SE>                     4,716,630
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   7,249,457
<SALES>                        4,822,032
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               4,822,032
<CGS>                          2,814,528
<TOTAL-COSTS>                  2,814,528
<OTHER-EXPENSES>               1,083,999
<LOSS-PROVISION>                  11,205
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                44,031
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  877,780
<INCOME-TAX>                     384,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              493,680
<DISCONTINUED>                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0
<CHANGES>                              0
<NET-INCOME>                     493,680
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       3.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0