<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK>  1020817 
<NAME> INTERMEDIA CAPITAL PARTNER IV, L.P.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           6,388
<SECURITIES>                                    60,507
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,163
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (1,685)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                61,972
<PP&E>                                         310,455<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 970,764
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           74,453
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           13,239
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,287
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   970,764
<SALES>                                        251,671
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               251,671
<CGS>                                           80,432<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  262,544
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   853
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              78,185
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (74,757)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (4,026)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (71,613)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>PP&E IS SHOWN NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION.
<F2>INCLUDES PROGRAM FEES AND OTHER DIRECT EXPENSES.
</FN>