<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             MAR-01-1997             JUN-01-1997             SEP-01-1997             DEC-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           6,282                  14,469                  13,822                  10,447
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   45,620                  82,284                  84,159                  56,457
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,383                   7,297                   8,433                   4,560
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                60,581                 104,680                 107,621                  69,317
<PP&E>                                         111,675                 153,044                 180,657                  99,621
<DEPRECIATION>                                  10,617                  13,294                  16,106                   9,374
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,019,385               1,918,238               1,962,925                 796,303
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           26,168                  48,937                  48,318                  34,331
<BONDS>                                        376,491                 760,563                 809,015                 330,111
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                 209,478                 215,550                       0
<PREFERRED>                                        205                       1                       1                       1
<COMMON>                                           211                     294                     295                     211
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                 683,402                 674,641                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,019,385               1,918,238               1,962,925                 796,303
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                54,237                 154,345                 260,512                 178,019
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   40,884                 133,570                 223,807                 120,004
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                11,133                  21,452                  38,107                  30,984
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   779                   2,002                   3,380                   2,568
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,504                  23,236                  40,074                  22,287
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,410                   (677)                 (1,402)                   9,961
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,685                   (374)                     774                   4,826
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,364                   (303)                   (628)                   5,135
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,639)                 (1,639)                 (1,639)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,562                 (1,942)                 (2,267)                     162
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.42)                   (.20)                   (.30)                     .01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.11)                     .07                   (.01)                     .23



</TABLE>