<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollar
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                       1 
<CASH>                                           74,949 
<SECURITIES>                                          0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                    10,034 
<ALLOWANCES>                                        353 
<INVENTORY>                                           0 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                141,790 
<PP&E>                                          366,772 
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (54,728)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  918,918 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            45,069 
<BONDS>                                               0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0 
<PREFERRED>                                     115,965 
<COMMON>                                            114 
<OTHER-SE>                                      (44,346)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    918,918 
<SALES>                                           4,322 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 36,920 
<CGS>                                             1,788 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    56,153 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 28,402 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    500 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               27,829 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (50,729)
<INCOME-TAX>                                          0 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (50,729)
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  15,763 
<CHANGES>                                             0 
<NET-INCOME>                                    (50,729)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (4.90)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (4.90)