<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 7,631 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 193,880 <ALLOWANCES> 13,260 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 269,385 <PP&E> 97,850 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 815,624 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 193,752 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 717 <OTHER-SE> 391,573 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 815,624 <SALES> 608,313 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 608,313 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 790,310 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,585 <INCOME-PRETAX> (193,582) <INCOME-TAX> (68,961) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (124,621) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (124,621) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.74) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.74)