<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND 1997 AND 
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                          47,059                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   68,186                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               231,051                       0
<PP&E>                                         103,808                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,045,696                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           65,939                       0
<BONDS>                                        502,596                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          2                       0
<COMMON>                                           538                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     321,539                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,045,696                       0
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                87,252                  62,053
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                42,442                  30,079
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,960                   5,101
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,751                  11,137
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,916                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,835                   6,396 
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (9,969)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,134)                   6,396 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.09)                    0.15 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.08)                    0.15
        

</TABLE>