<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, 1997 AND 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. (1997 PERIOD HAS BEEN REVISED, SEE 
NOTE 1 IN THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS)
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                               0                  47,059
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                  68,186
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                 231,051
<PP&E>                                               0                 103,808
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0               1,045,696
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                  65,939
<BONDS>                                              0                 502,596
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       2
<COMMON>                                             0                     538
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                 321,539
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0               1,045,696
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                17,879                  87,252
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,781                  42,442
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,418                  10,960
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (6,203)                  10,751
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                   4,916
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (6,203)                   5,835
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (9,969)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6,203)                 (4,134)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.58)                  (0.09)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.58)                  (0.08)
        

 

</TABLE>