<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF INTEREP NATIONAL RADIO SALES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 23216 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 38876 <ALLOWANCES> 1584 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 92819 <PP&E> 21803 <DEPRECIATION> 16663 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 160109 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 36149 <BONDS> 100000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 14 <OTHER-SE> (6625) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 160109 <SALES> 17511 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 20016 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 26747 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2382 <INCOME-PRETAX> (9113) <INCOME-TAX> (3736) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (5377) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5377) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0