<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>   5
<LEGEND>
                        ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                         IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM 601(C)
                           OR REGULATIONS S-K AND S-B

                                 (In thousands)

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Consolidated  Statement of Operations  and Retained  Earnings for the year ended
September 30, 1998 and the  Consolidated  Balance Sheet as of September 30, 1998
and is qualified in its  entirety by  reference to such  consolidated  financial
statements.

</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                                           1,000
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                     SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                                13,849
<SECURITIES>                                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                         34,939
<ALLOWANCES>                                                           1,371
<INVENTORY>                                                                0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                      68,817
<PP&E>                                                               136,634
<DEPRECIATION>                                                        89,075
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       279,521
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                 44,606
<BONDS>                                                              423,935
<COMMON>                                                                   1
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<OTHER-SE>                                                          (203,777)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                         279,521
<SALES>                                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     182,484
<CGS>                                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                        129,637
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         513
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                         268
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    44,340
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       11,333
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           5,587
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    5,746
<DISCONTINUED>                                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                        5,155
<CHANGES>                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             591
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0

        

</TABLE>