<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DOVE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH DOCUMENT. </LEGEND> <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 30,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,886,000 <ALLOWANCES> 738,000 <INVENTORY> 4,287,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,055,000 <PP&E> 4,989,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,026,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 21,648,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,547,000 <BONDS> 2,661,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 2,000 <COMMON> 60,000 <OTHER-SE> 9,378,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 21,648,000 <SALES> 6,209,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 6,209,000 <CGS> 5,584,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,584,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,993,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 92,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,460,000) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,460,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,460,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.42) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.45)