<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>  This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
Petersen Publishing Co. and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements. 
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0001029075
<NAME> PETERSEN PUBLISHING COMPANY, L.L.C.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   10-MOS                 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1995             NOV-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-01-1994             DEC-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1995             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                           9,938                  12,453
<SECURITIES>                                     3,744                      55
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,755                  20,648
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (2,220)                 (1,871)
<INVENTORY>                                     21,347                   8,518
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                54,777                  41,234
<PP&E>                                          21,129                  18,682
<DEPRECIATION>                                (13,345)                (13,441)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  66,808                  50,541
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           49,017                  44,025
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                       8,627                 (1,672)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    66,808                  50,541
<SALES>                                        205,262                 181,520
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               213,615                 189,114
<CGS>                                          171,112                 148,713
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  171,112                 148,713
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                28,145                  24,650
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                     185
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,907                  17,657
<INCOME-TAX>                                       549                     331
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             14,358                  14,358
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,358                  14,358
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0