<PAGE>   1


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

[X]        Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
           Exchange Act of 1934

                 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1999

                                       or

[ ]        Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
           Exchange Act of 1934 

            For the transition period from __________ to __________.

Commission File Number: 0-16718

              NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SEVEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
              ----------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


       Washington                                       91-1366564
-----------------------                     ------------------------------------
(State of Organization)                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3600, Seattle, Washington            98101
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)

                (206) 621-1351
---------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                      N/A                                        
----------------------------------------------------
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, 
if changed since last report)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days.

                                 Yes [X] No [ ]

------------------------

This filing contains __ pages. Exhibits index appears on page __.



<PAGE>   2

PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SEVEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 
BALANCE SHEETS - (Unaudited) 
(Prepared by the Managing General Partner)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   March 31,            December 31,
                                                                     1999                  1998
                                                                 ------------          ------------
<S>                                                              <C>                   <C>         

                                   ASSETS

Cash                                                             $  1,279,085          $  1,476,227
Accounts receivable                                                   378,543               428,526
Prepaid expenses                                                      112,197               105,118
Property and equipment, net of accumulated
  depreciation of $15,811,697 and $15,279,030,
  respectively                                                     14,244,873            14,284,696
Intangible assets, net of accumulated
  amortization of $7,161,018 and $6,552,976,
  respectively                                                     17,468,546            18,076,588

                                                                 ------------          ------------
Total assets                                                     $ 33,483,244          $ 34,371,155
                                                                 ============          ============


                        LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY

Accounts payable and accrued expenses                            $  1,445,180          $  1,691,205
Due to managing general partner and affiliates                          4,448               237,048
Converter deposits                                                     36,706                35,304
Subscriber prepayments                                                802,718               643,184
Notes payable                                                      40,900,334            41,217,445

                                                                 ------------          ------------
                  Total liabilities                                43,189,386            43,824,186
                                                                 ------------          ------------

Partners' equity:
 General Partners:
   Contributed capital, net                                           (25,367)              (25,367)
   Accumulated deficit                                               (284,163)             (281,632)

                                                                 ------------          ------------
                                                                     (309,530)             (306,999)
                                                                 ------------          ------------

 Limited Partners:
   Contributed capital, net                                        18,735,576            18,735,576
   Accumulated deficit                                            (28,132,188)          (27,881,608)

                                                                 ------------          ------------
                                                                   (9,396,612)           (9,146,032)
                                                                 ------------          ------------


                  Total partners' equity                           (9,706,142)           (9,453,031)
                                                                 ------------          ------------


Total liabilities and partners' equity                           $ 33,483,244          $ 34,371,155
                                                                 ============          ============
</TABLE>


The accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements are an integral part of
these statements



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<PAGE>   3


NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SEVEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - (Unaudited)
(Prepared by the Managing General Partner)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               For the three months ended March 31,
                                               ------------------------------------
                                                     1999                 1998
                                                 -----------          -----------
<S>                                            <C>                  <C>        
Service revenues                                 $ 4,270,944          $ 4,083,275

Expenses:
  Operating                                          399,165              347,526
  General and administrative (including
     $511,597 and $456,545 to affiliates
     in 1998 and 1997, respectively)                 963,726              927,329
Programming                                        1,154,644            1,108,139
Depreciation and amortization                      1,140,709            1,304,395

                                                 -----------          -----------
                                                   3,658,244            3,687,389
                                                 -----------          -----------

Income from operations                               612,700              395,886

Other income (expense):
   Interest expense                                 (875,634)            (902,631)
   Interest income                                     9,823                  954
   Other income (expense)                                 --                   --
   Gain/loss on sale of assets                            --                   --
                                                 -----------          -----------
                                                    (865,811)            (901,677)
                                                 -----------          -----------


Net loss                                         $  (253,111)         $  (505,791)
                                                 ===========          ===========


Allocation of net loss:

   General Partners                              $    (2,531)         $    (5,058)
                                                 ===========          ===========


   Limited Partners                              $  (250,580)         $  (500,733)
                                                 ===========          ===========


Net loss per limited partnership unit:
 (49,656 units)                                  $        (5)         $       (10)
                                                 ===========          ===========


Net loss per $1,000 investment                   $       (10)         $       (20)
                                                 ===========          ===========

</TABLE>


The accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements are an integral part of
these statements



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<PAGE>   4



NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SEVEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - (Unaudited)
(Prepared by the Managing General Partner)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           For the three months ended March 31,
                                                           ------------------------------------
                                                               1999                 1998
                                                            -----------          -----------
<S>                                                        <C>                  <C>         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss                                                    $  (253,111)         $  (505,791)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
   cash provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                              1,140,709            1,304,395
   (Increase) decrease in operating assets:
     (Gain)Loss on sale of assets                                    --                   --
     Accounts receivable                                         49,983              (28,769)
     Prepaid expenses                                            (7,079)               9,555
   Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                     (246,025)             140,671
     Due to managing general partner and affiliates            (232,600)             (19,432)
     Converter deposits                                           1,402               (2,225)
     Subscriber prepayments                                     159,534               11,290

                                                            -----------          -----------
Net cash from operating activities                              612,813              909,694
                                                            -----------          -----------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment, net                        (492,844)            (429,953)
Acquisition of cable systems                                         --                   --
Proceeds from sale of assets                                         --                   --
Increase in intangibles                                              --                   --

                                                            -----------          -----------
Net cash used in investing activities                          (492,844)            (429,953)
                                                            -----------          -----------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on borrowings                               (317,111)            (560,000)
Proceeds from borrowings                                             --                   --
Distributions to partners                                            --                   --
Loan fees and other costs incurred                                   --             (110,000)
Repurchase of limited partner interest                               --                   --

                                                            -----------          -----------
Net cash used in financing activities                          (317,111)            (670,000)
                                                            -----------          -----------

DECREASE IN CASH                                               (197,142)            (190,259)

CASH, beginning of period                                     1,476,227              344,558


                                                            -----------          -----------
CASH, end of period                                         $ 1,279,085          $   154,299
                                                            ===========          ===========


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

   Cash paid during the period for interest                 $   913,706          $   636,048
                                                            ===========          ===========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements are an integral part of
these statements




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<PAGE>   5

              NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES SEVEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                     NOTE TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(1) These unaudited financial statements are being filed in conformity with Rule
10-01 of Regulation S-X regarding interim financial statement disclosure and do
not contain all of the necessary footnote disclosures required for a fair
presentation of the Balance Sheets, Statements of Operations and Statements of
Cash Flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. However,
in the opinion of management, this data includes all adjustments, consisting
only of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Partnership's
financial position at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, its Statements of
Operations for three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998, and its Statements of
Cash Flows for the three March 31, 1999 and 1998. Results of operations for
these periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the
full year.


(2) In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities. The Statement establishes accounting and reporting
standards requiring that every derivative instrument (including certain
derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be recorded in the balance
sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The Statement
requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently in
earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special accounting
for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains and losses to offset related
results on the hedged item in the income statement, and requires that a company
must formally document, designate, and assess the effectiveness of transactions
that receive hedge accounting.

Statement 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. A
company may also implement the Statement as of the beginning of any fiscal
quarter after issuance (that is, fiscal quarters beginning June 16, 1998 and
thereafter). Statement 133 cannot be applied retroactively. Statement 133 must
be applied to (a) derivative instruments and (b) certain derivative instruments
embedded in hybrid contracts that were issued, acquired, or substantively
modified after December 31, 1997 (and, at the company's election, before January
1, 1998).

The Partnership has not yet quantified the impacts of adopting Statement 133 on
its financial statements and has not determined the timing of or method of
adoption of Statement 133. However, the Statement could increase volatility in
earnings and other comprehensive income.



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<PAGE>   6


                               PART I (continued)

ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations


Results of Operations

Revenues totaled $4,270,944 for the three months ended March 31, 1999
representing an increase of approximately 5% over the same period in 1998. Of
these revenues, $3,059,756 (72%) was derived from basic service charges,
$361,448 (9%) from premium services, $326,721 (8%) from tier services, $99,342
(2%) from installation charges, $95,441 (2%) from service maintenance contracts,
$184,094 (4%) from advertising and $144,142 (3%) from other sources. The growth
in revenue is attributable to rate increases implemented in the Partnership's
systems and a 7% increase in the number of tier subscribers.

As of March 31, 1999, the Partnership's systems served approximately 40,000
basic subscribers, 16,400 premium subscribers and 13,100 tier subscribers.

Operating expenses totaled $399,165 for the three months ended March 31, 1999,
representing an increase of approximately 15% over the same period in 1998. This
increase is primarily attributable to: (i) increases in salary and benefit costs
due to cost of living adjustments; (ii) the addition of technical and regional
personnel; and (iii) increases to pole, duct and site rental costs.

General and administrative expenses totaled $963,726 for the three months ended
March 31, 1999, representing an increase of approximately 4% over the same
period in 1998. This increase is primarily attributable to: (i) increases in
salary and benefit costs due to cost of living adjustments; and (ii) increases
in revenue based expenses such as management and franchise fees due to increased
revenue as noted previously.

Programming expenses totaled $1,154,644 for the three months ended March 31,
1999, representing an increase of approximately 4% over the same period in 1998.
This increase is primarily attributable to: (i) higher programming costs
resulting from rate increases charged by various program suppliers; and (ii)
higher advertising agency fee expenses resulting from increases in advertising
revenues.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 1999
decreased approximately 13% over the same period in 1998. Such decrease was the
result of certain assets becoming fully depreciated and amortized in 1998.

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 1999 decreased
approximately 3% compared to the same period in 1998. The Partnership's average
bank debt outstanding decreased from $41,481,150 in the first quarter of 1998 to
$41,058,890 in the first quarter of 1999, and the Partnership's effective
interest rate decreased from 8.70% during the first quarter of 1998 to 8.53%
during the first quarter of 1999.



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<PAGE>   7

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Partnership's primary sources of liquidity are cash flow provided from
operations and borrowing capacity under the Partnership's existing revolving
credit facility. Based on management's analysis, the Partnership's cash flow
from operations is sufficient to cover future operating costs, debt service and
planned capital expenditures.

Under the terms of the Partnership's loan agreement, the Partnership has agreed
to restrictive covenants which require the maintenance of certain ratios
including a maximum ratio of senior debt to annualized operating cash flow of
5.50 to 1.00 and a minimum ratio of annualized operating cash flow to pro forma
debt service of 1.20 to 1.00. As of March 31, 1999 the Partnership was in
compliance with its required financial covenants.

As of the date of this filing, the balance under the credit facility is
$40,537,500. Certain fixed rate agreements in place as of June 30, 1998 expired
during the third quarter of 1998, and the Partnership entered into new fixed
rate agreements. As of the date of this filing, interest rates on the credit
facility were as follows: $20,187,500 fixed at 8.635% under the terms of a self
amortizing interest rate swap agreement with the Partnership's lender expiring
December 29, 2000; $9,000,000 fixed at 8.315% under the terms of an interest
rate swap agreement with the Partnership's lender expiring June 15, 2000;
$6,000,000 fixed at 8.335% under the terms of an interest rate swap agreement
with the Partnership's lender expiring March 12, 2001; $4,100,000 fixed at
8.335% under the terms of an interest rate swap agreement with the Partnership's
lender expiring March 12, 2001; and $1,000,000 at a Libor based rate of 7.418%
expiring June 15, 1999. The balance of $250,000 bears interest at prime plus
1.25% (currently 9.00%). The above rates include a margin paid to the lender
based on overall leverage, and may increase or decrease as the Partnership's
leverage fluctuates.

Capital Expenditures

During the first quarter of 1999, the Partnership incurred approximately
$493,000 in capital expenditures, including the continuation of an upgrade of
the distribution plant to 400 MHz in the Camano, WA system; the initial
construction phase of a fiber optic backbone in the Sandersville, GA system; the
second and third phases of an upgrade of the distribution plant to 450 MHz in
the Bay City, TX system; the continuation of an upgrade of the distribution
plant to 550 MHz in the Toccoa, GA system; as well as various line extensions
and vehicle replacements in all of the systems.



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<PAGE>   8



Planned expenditures for the balance of 1999 include another phase of an upgrade
of the distribution plant to 400 MHz in the Camano, WA system; continuation of
construction of a fiber optic backbone in the Sandersville, GA system;
continuation of an upgrade of the distribution plant to 450 MHz in the Bay City,
TX system; continuation of the upgrade of the Toccoa, GA system to 550 MHz; and
various line extensions in all of the systems.

Year 2000 Issues 

The efficient operation of the Partnership's business is dependent in part on
its computer software programs and operating systems (collectively, Programs and
Systems). These Programs and Systems are used in several key areas of the
Partnership's business, including subscriber billing and collections and
financial reporting. Management has evaluated the Programs and Systems utilized
in the conduct of the Partnership's business for the purpose of identifying year
2000 compliance problems. Failure to remedy these issues could impact the
ability of the Partnership to timely bill its subscribers for service provided
and properly report its financial condition and results of operations which
could have a material impact on its liquidity and capital resources.

The Programs and Systems utilized in subscriber billing and collections have
been modified to address year 2000 compliance issues. These modifications were
substantially complete at the end of 1998. Management has completed the process
of replacing Programs and Systems related to financial reporting which resolve
year 2000 compliance issues. The aggregate cost to the Partnership to address
year 2000 compliance issues is not expected to be material to its results of
operations, liquidity and capital resources.

Management is currently focusing its efforts on the impact of the year 2000
compliance issue on service delivery and has established an internal team to
address this issue. The internal team is identifying and testing all date
sensitive equipment involved in delivering service to its customers. In
addition, management will assess its options regarding repair or replacement of
affected equipment during this testing. The aggregate cost to the Partnership to
address year 2000 compliance issues is not expected to be material to its
results of operations, liquidity and capital resources.

The provision of cable television services is significantly dependent on the
Partnership's ability to adequately receive programming signals via satellite
distribution or off air reception from various programmers and broadcasters. The
Partnership has inquired of certain significant programming vendors with respect
to their year 2000 issues and how they might impact the operations of the
Partnership. As of the date of this filing no significant programming vendor has
communicated a year 2000 issue that would affect materially the operations of
the Partnership. However, if significant programming vendors identify year 2000
issues in the future and are unable to resolve such issues in a timely manner,
it could result in a material financial risk.




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<PAGE>   9


                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1 Legal proceedings

          None

ITEM 2 Changes in securities

          None

ITEM 3 Defaults upon senior securities
          None

ITEM 4 Submission of matters to a vote of security holders

          None

ITEM 5 Other information

          None

ITEM 6 Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


(a) Exhibit index

        27.0  Financial Data Schedule

(b) No reports on Form 8-K have been filed during the quarter ended March 31,
1999.



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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                   NORTHLAND CABLE PROPERTIES 
                                   SEVEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                   BY:  Northland Communications Corporation,
                                        Managing General Partner



Dated:                             BY:  /s/ RICHARD I. CLARK
       -----------------------         -----------------------------------------
                                        Richard I. Clark
                                        (Vice President/Treasurer)



Dated:                             BY:  /s/ GARY S. JONES
       -----------------------         -----------------------------------------
                                       Gary S. Jones
                                       (Vice President)



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